BBC One animation for Christmas

Rob Brydon is to narrate an animated version of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s children’s book The Highway Rat.

The half-hour adaptation will air on BBC One this Christmas.

It stars David Tennant as the Highway Rat, Nina Sosanya as the Duck, Tom Hollander as the Squirrel and Frances de le Tour as the Rabbit.

First published in 2011, The Highway Rat is about a ravenous rodent who tears along the highway, searching for sugary treats to steal.

The animation is being made by Magic Light Pictures, who previously adapted four other Donaldson/Scheffler titles, including  Stick Man, where premiered on BBC One on Christmas Day 2015 to 9.3 million viewers.

Michael Rose and Martin Pope, co-founders of Magic Light Pictures, said: ‘It’s been a privilege adapting Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s wonderful book for the screen. They create worlds rich in story, character and charm, ideal for families to watch together, and huge fun for us to make’

Published: 11 Oct 2017