Rob Brydon, Alison Steadman and Sheridan Smith are reuniting for a BBC Christmas special, but it is not a new episode of the beloved comedy from Ruth Jones and James Corden. Instead, the trio are teaming up for The Baddies, the latest TV adaptation from The Gruffalo author Dame Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler.
The BBC and Magic Light Pictures have unveiled a first look at The Baddies, which shines the spotlight on triumphing over the worst baddies around. In this fairytale comedy, a Troll, a Witch and a Ghost proclaim themselves the baddest of them all, delighting in tormenting everyone they meet. But when they are challenged to steal the girl's blue spotty hanky, they discover they may have met their match.
Voice cast and story details
Sheridan Smith narrates the half-hour special, joined by a voice cast including Alison Steadman as Witch and Rob Brydon as Ghost. Among the other stars are Hammed Animashaun as Troll, Robyn Cara as Girl and Francesca Mills as Mouse.
Sheridan, who plays Smithy's sister in Gavin & Stacey, said: "Being bad has never been so much fun! The Baddies is deliciously spooky, ridiculously funny, and packed with heart. It's a riot of a fairytale that celebrates courage, kindness, and outsmarting the big bullies - families are going to love the hilarity and chaos this Christmas."
Alison, renowned for her role as Pamela, added: "What I loved about the story is how it flips traditional fairytales on their head. You have these three boastful villains plotting wicked tricks, only to be completely outsmarted by a brave little girl and a mouse. It's such a satisfying, funny tale about kindness quietly beating big bullies."
Previous adaptation success
Last year's adaptation, The Scarecrows' Wedding, was watched by 8.7 million viewers across the festive period, becoming Christmas week's most-watched programme in the UK and achieving Magic Light's highest-ever audience share of 48.2%. The Baddies is directed by Andy Martin and Sarah-Jane Knox.
It is almost two years since the finale of Gavin & Stacey was aired on Christmas Day. It followed the cliffhanger five years earlier when Nessa (Ruth Jones) got down on one knee, declaring her love for Smithy (James Corden) and asking him to marry her.
Gavin & Stacey finale recap
When fans met up with the characters again, Smithy was engaged to Sonia (Laura Aikman), to whom his friends and family had secretly taken a strong disliking. Although he never gave Nessa a proper answer to her proposal, she had all but given up on their romance and decided to return to her job on a cargo ship in order to clear her head.
Fans, as well as Smithy and Nessa, got their happy ever after when, after a series of blips, the pair made it to the altar after all, signalling the last episode of the BBC comedy.
