Work starts on David Walliams book adaptation

BBC One has announced the cast for its adaptation of David Walliams’s children's book, The Boy In The Dress.

Jennifer Saunders, Meera Syal and Blackadder star Tim McInnerny are among the comedy names in the ensemble.

The show, to air this Christmas, will also mark the debut for young actor Billy Kennedy, playing the central role of Dennis.

Walliams also makes an appearance, while there will also be a cameo from supermodel Kate Moss.

Also in the cast are Steve Spiers, known as depressed geography teacher Gareth Barber in Walliams's Big School, James Buckley from The Inbetweeners, and Felicity Montagu, from I'm Alan Partridge.

Walliams said: 'We have put together a dream cast for this, the first of my children's books – and for many still my best. It is a funny and poignant story about what is is to be different. I hope it will make everyone who sees it, young and old, stop and think.'

Production has just begun on the show, which follows previous Christmas adaptations of Walliams's books Gangsta Granny and Mr Stink. The script has been written by Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley, working with Walliams

BBC entertainment controller Mark Freeland, said: 'Christmas wouldn't be Christmas on BBC One without a man in a tatty coat, a granny on a souped up mobility scooter and now a boy in a dress.'

Published: 21 Oct 2014