Photo: Sky One

This Christmas, Roald & Beatrix, The Tail of the Curious Mouse, a blend of live action camera work, stop-frame animation and puppetry will bring to life the vivid imaginations and magical worlds of these two inspiring and renowned children’s authors.

Inspired by the true story of when a six-year-old Roald Dahl met his idol Beatrix Potter, the one-off 90 minute special will transmit on Christmas Day on Sky and star Dawn French as Beatrix Potter along with Jessica Hynes (Spaced, Twenty Twelve, W1A), Rob Brydon (Gavin & Stacey, The Trip), Alison Steadman (Gavin & Stacey, Worst Week of My Life, Hold the Sunset), Nina Sosanya (Last Tango in Halifax, W1A), Bill Bailey (Black Books) and Nick Mohammed (Reggie Perrin, Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, Intelligence).

Photo: Sky One

According to a producers press release, “The famed author Beatrix Potter (French) is coming to the end of her career. With her publisher (Sosanya) hounding her for her next draft, she’s unable to concentrate and has had enough of writing children’s books. It’s not just her motivation that she has lost, her optometrist (Mohammed) has recognized she has failing eyesight.”

“With Christmas approaching, Beatrix is pressured, feeling increasingly out of touch with her readers, not to mention the trespassing fans and jovial door-knocking carol singers. Her Cumbrian farm and ever-growing Herdwick sheep collection, her long-suffering husband William (Brydon) and disobedient animals including much loved pig called Sally, act as her only real comfort as she looks for inspiration and resists taking the easy way out with her Publisher.

“Two hundred or so miles away in Wales, life is changing for an anxious young boy called Roald (Harry Tayler). Having recently lost his older sister and now his father, the once happy six-year-old has found solace and comfort in books. The dream of meeting his favorite author is eventually realized and their very special encounter proves to be both a magical and life changing moment for them both.”

Jon Mountague from Sky Studios says: “Roald Dahl taught us ‘a little magic can take you a long way’. This Christmas, Sky presents the magical tale of how a boyhood Dahl met his idol Beatrix Potter. With Dawn French leading an all-star cast this surprising story, inspired by a real life encounter, is a tale as much for our times as yesteryear. Produced by Hartswood Films, it’s a giant peach of a Christmas gift.”

Roald & Beatrix, The Tail of the Curious Mouse airs this Christmas on Sky One. After the 2020 we’ve all had, we could certainly use a bit of Christmas magic this year.