Manchester actor John Thomson will play Ebenezer Scrooge in the Old Vic's acclaimed production of A Christmas Carol at The Lowry in Salford this festive season. The show runs from 11 December 2026 to 10 January 2027, with tickets from £30.
Thomson, known for roles in Cold Feet, Coronation Street, Alan Partridge, and The Fast Show, takes on the leading role previously played in London by Christopher Eccleston and John Simm. The Matthew Warchus production has earned five-star reviews and a reputation as a "festive must see".
A Career of Memorable Characters
Thomson says people still shout "how's Gail?" at him in the street, a nod to his Coronation Street character Jesse Chadwick, who left with Gail Platt in 2024. He jokes that he replies she is "sunning herself in the South of France".
Fans also ask him to reprise other characters, such as Joe Beazley with his Cheeky Monkey puppet from Knowing Me, Knowing You. Thomson recalls the sketch, now 30 years old, as "just improvised" and "one of the funniest things". He notes that people still show it to him, even in America.
Last month, Thomson reunited with Steve Coogan at a Manchester screening celebrating the 25th anniversary of 24 Hour Party People. He hinted that Coogan's character Paul Calf could return, saying it "lends itself beautifully to that natural style" and adding, "it's the character I could see coming back."
The Fast Show Tour and Scrooge Role
The Fast Show continues to draw large audiences, with its latest tour extending dates due to demand. Thomson will perform in Manchester at The Lowry in January and the Opera House in February. He joked about initial tour dates lacking Manchester shows, saying, "I don't book the dates! But now we've got the Manchester ones for all the haters."
Thomson's meeting with the press took place in the Edwardian Hotel, once the Free Trade Hall, where Dickens himself once staged a play and delivered a speech that inspired A Christmas Carol. Thomson also recalls playing in a brass band competition there in 1986.
He described the production as "nine years at the Old Vic" and praised the transfer to The Lowry as "very exciting", adding, "It just has the stamp of excellence all over it." The role keeps him busy six days a week during the run.
Upcoming Projects and Personal Life
Thomson will also appear in The Wanted Man, a prison drama with Hugh Laurie premiering in January 2027. He hopes Break Clause, the Channel 4 comedy, will return, saying, "We need a laugh, the world is in a scary place right now."
He rules out a return to stand-up, finding it "too nerve-wracking", but insists he will "never retire". Thomson, who lives in Didsbury, describes it as his "spiritual home" and says he has been there since 2001.
