Sky 1 Making David Walliams’ Ratburger For Christmas 2017
Sky has a tradition of bringing to life some brilliant adaptations of family-friendly comedy/dramas over the last few years, and today they announced the big show for Christmas 2017 will be David Walliams’ Ratburger, an adaptation of his popular children’s novel.
Three-time Children’s Book of the Year winner Walliams will star in the gruesome comedy alongside BAFTA TV Award-winning actress Sheridan Smith (Cilla, Gavin & Stacey, Miss Biggs), Mark Benton (The Halcyon, Waterloo Road), Nigel Planer (The Young Ones) and Ben Bailey Smith (Law and Order: UK).
“I am thrilled my book is coming to Sky,” commented Walliams. “And especially thrilled that I am playing the villain Burt. Plus I will be working with one of my favourite comedy actors Nigel Planer and someone who I adore working with, the super talented Sheridan Smith.”
Ratburger follows a young girl called Zoe (Talia Barnett), who has a stepmother (Smith) that despises her, a dad (Benton) who’s never around and has a miserable time at the hands of Tina Trotts (Tillie Amartey), the school bully. Her only chum is Harry (George Kent), until she discovers a baby rat in her bedroom she names him Armitage and they quickly become firm friends. Zoe also discovers he’s no ordinary rat – he’s a rat that can dance. She sets out to show off her rodent pal’s skill at the school talent show but her stepmother and shifty burger man Burt (Walliams) have other ideas, which include throwing Armitage into the mincer and putting rat burgers on the menu.
The show is written by Kevin Cecil (Gnomeo and Juliet, Billionaire Boy) and David Walliams, and directed by BAFTA winner Matt Lipsey (Little Britain, Psychoville). This follows in a long line of Sky 1 big Christmas feature, including adaptations of various Terry Pratchett novels, and 2016’s The Last Dragon Slayer.
Ratburger will air on Sky 1 during Christmas 2017.
