Alongside Liz Hurley and Frasier's Kelsey Grammer

John Cleese has been cast in a new Christmas comedy film alongside Liz Hurley and Frasier star Kelsey Grammer.

Caroline Quentin, Talulah Riley and Kris Marshall also feature in Father Christmas Is Back, which is currently shooting in York.

The story revolves around Caroline Christmas-Hope (Nathalie Cox), a control freak who plans a perfect family Christmas to compensate for the fact that her dad James (Cleese) – literally 'father Christmas'  – walked out on December 25 many years ago. 

But then he turns up on her doorstep with his new American girlfriend (Two And A Half Men’s April Bowlby) and chaos ensues. 

Grammer plays the brother of Cleese’s character; and Quentin plays the mother of the Christmas clan – Johanna, a haughty fashion editor (Hurley);   ‘man-eater’ Vicky (Riley)  and  Pauline, an introverted music professor (Naomi Frederick) – and Marshall her new husband.

Father Christmas Is Back is being directed by Philippe Martinez who said: ‘We all need uplifting stories to inspire us and a big Christmas comedy like Father Christmas Is Back is the perfect antidote to raise our spirits.’

Published: 15 Sep 2020