Family film for BBC One

Harry Hill is to make his acting debut for BBC One in Professor Branestaw, a family film adapted from the classic series of children's books.

The comic will be playing Norman Hunter’s absent-minded inventor in a script by Fast Show actor Charlie Higson, who also wrote the Young Bond series. Higson will also appear as the mayor of the quintessential English village of Great Pagwell.

Also starring in the one-hour special is Getting On's Vicky Pepperdine as the professor's long suffering housekeeper, Mrs Flittersnoop and Madeline Holliday as Connie, his science-mad niece.

The cast also includes Simon Day as Colonel Dedshott, Ben Miller as Mr Bullimore, Miranda Richardson as Connie’s teacher Miss Blitherington, David Mitchell as councillor Harold Haggerstone, Sophie Thompson as Connie’s mum Aggie and Adrian Scarborough as the vicar.

Hill said 'As a budding schoolboy scientist and inventor myself I loved the Professor Branestawm books. I was fascinated by Heath Robinson’s wonderful illustrations too. It’s a thrill for me to be playing the prof in Charlie Higson’s brilliant TV adaptation. Best Christmas present ever!'

Higson added: 'I loved Norman Hunter’s Professor Branestawm books when I was a kid, and I loved reading them to my own kids, who found them as funny as I did.

'These were the books that inspired me to write comedy of my own, and I’ve always wanted to adapt them for the screen. To bring Heath Robinson’s brilliant illustrations to life and share Norman Hunter’s amazing inventiveness with a wider audience is a dream come true for me.'

The show will be made by the BBC's in-house comedy production unit, with Ben Farrell the executive producer.

Published: 30 Sep 2014