BBC Pick David Walliams’ ‘Grandpa’s Great Escape’ For Christmas Special
Christmas 2017 will be a great time for fans David Walliams’ children’s books! The BBC has just announced they have picked up ‘Grandpa’s Great Escape’ as their latest Christmas drama. This is on top of an adaptation of ‘Ratburger’, which Sky 1 had already announced they will be airing over the festive period.
‘Grandpa’s Great Escape’ tells the tale of Grandpa, a World War II flying ace, who now sadly suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and when his family can no longer look after him he is moved to an old people’s home called Twilight Towers, run by Miss Dandy.
It soon becomes clear Miss Dandy is running Twilight Towers for her own ulterior motives and it is up to Grandpa and his grandson Jack to make a daring escape. Failure could have the direst consequences but success will give Grandpa a final chance to relive his past and once again take to the sky in his beloved Spitfire.
Tom Courtenay (’45 Years’, ‘Doctor Zhivago’, ‘The Dresser’) takes the lead as Grandpa, with Kit Connor (‘Get Santa’, ‘Mr Holmes’) playing his grandson Jack and Miss Dandy being played by the legendary Jennifer Saunders (‘French And Saunders’, ‘Absolutely Fabulous’). Other characters include Jack’s mum Patricia who will be played by Samantha Spiro (‘Babs’, Game Of Thrones’) and Jack’s dad Barry who will be played by Walliams himself (‘Little Britain’, ‘Britain’s Got Talent’).
“I am thrilled to be working with acting and comedy royalty on this adaptation of my book,” comments Walliams. “I have loved Tom Courtenay forever and I still can’t believe that I am working with him. He is the perfect Grandpa. And what a treat to be working with comedy genius Jennifer Saunders again.”
“This heart-warming story about the close relationship between a boy and his grandfather continues the rich tradition of BBC One family pieces at Christmas by connecting young and older viewers together,” adds Shane Allen, BBC Controller of Comedy Commissioning.
Whilst many know Walliams as a comedian and actor, is second career as an author has proved a massive success, having sold 20 million children’s books. ‘Grandpa’s Great Escape’ this is the 5th of his children’s books to be adapted for a Christmas special on BBC One following ‘Mr Stink’ in 2012, ‘Gangsta Granny’ in 2013, ‘The Boy In The Dress’ in 2014 and ‘Billionaire Boy’ in 2015.
‘Grandpa’s Great Escape’ will come to BBC One over Christmas 2017.
