The Pope of Trash

For a director whose work was once described as "one of the most vile, stupid and repulsive films ever made" (Variety magazine), it's refreshing and let's face it, bloody brilliant, to know that 50 years on John Waters is still creating, whether through his bestselling books, art exhibitions or sold out stand-up shows. Waters has for his entire career existed, and indeed thrived, outside of the mainstream. His films have always been divisive, and often deliberately so. But don't let yourself miss out  missing out on one of the funniest, filthiest, and most subversive bodies of work in cinema history - that really would be a dirty shame.

Read more from Paul O' Callaghan on where to begin with John Waters.

Frustratingly, many of his early films (Pink Flamingos, Polyester, Female Trouble,Serial Mom and even Hairspray) are currently unavailable on DVD in the UK. As soon as they are available again, we'll stock 'em, in the meantime here's an introduction to the gloriously 'depraved' world of the Dreamlanders.

And check out Waters in full flight onstage at the BFI