Lolly Adefope and Jayde Adams are to star in an animated adaptation of the children’s book Tiddler.

The BBC is making a half-hour adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s picture book – the 12th of their titles to be adapted into a special.

Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddingham  will narrate the series while Adefope plays Miss Skate and Jayde Adams is Plaice and other characters. Rob Brydon also lends his voice to the project, as  Fisherman, Whale, Starfish and Anchovy. 

Tiddler will also feature the voices of child actors Reuben Kirby in the title role, and Theo Fraser as Johnny Dory.

The half-hour film is described as  an underwater adventure about the power of imagination and finding confidence in yourself – and how to be content as a little fish in a big ocean.

Its description reads: ‘Every day Tiddler tells a different story to his teacher and his friend Johnny Dory about why he’s late for school. His stories stretch from riding on seahorses or swimming around a shipwreck to being captured by a squid! His stories are so great that word of mouth helps them travel through the ocean and so, when Tiddler gets lost, he realises they may help him find a way home.

Tiddler will air on BBC One over Christmas.