- Got a story? Email tips@dailymail.com
Hannah Waddingham is known for her starring role as soccer club owner Rebecca Welton in the Apple TV+ comedy Ted Lasso.
However, the 50-year-old actress will play a role far removed from her famous character in a new BBC animated film in which she will star alongside Rob Brydon (Gavin and Stacey).
Tiddler will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this Christmas and will follow the story of a little fish with a big imagination.
The half-hour animated special will feature the voices of an all-star cast led by Hannah as narrator, with Ghosts’ Lolly Adefope as Miss Skate and Jayde Adams as Plaice.
Rob Brydon returns for his twelfth Donaldson and Scheffler adaptation in the multi-voiced roles of Fisherman, Whale, Starfish and Anchovy.
Hannah Waddingham will play a very different role from her character Ted Lasso in a new BBC animated film, in which she will star alongside Rob Brydon (Gavin and Stacey).
The actress is known for her starring role as soccer club owner Rebecca Welton in the Apple TV+ comedy Ted Lasso.
Tiddler will also feature the voices of child actors Reuben Kirby in the title role and Theo Fraser as Johnny Dory.
The magical story comes from the UK’s number one picture book creators Julia Donaldson and Alex Scheffler and is being produced by the BBC and Magic Light Pictures.
The synopsis explains that every day Tiddler tells a different story to his teacher and his friend Johnny Dory about why he is late for school.
Their stories range from riding seahorses and swimming around a shipwreck to being captured by a squid.
Their stories are so wonderful that word of mouth helps them travel across the ocean and so when Tiddler gets lost, he realises that they can help him find his way home.
The film is presented as an underwater adventure about the power of imagination and the search for self-confidence, and how to feel satisfied as a small fish in a big ocean.
Hannah enthused: ‘It’s been a real pleasure recording the voice of the narrator for this Magic Light Pictures Christmas special.
‘Tiddler is the story of the storyteller in all of us and helps children understand what it’s like to be a small fish in a very big pond and we’ve all felt that in our lives.
Tidder will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this Christmas and will follow the story of a little fish with a big imagination.
Hannah enthused: “It’s been a real pleasure recording the voice of the narrator for this Magic Light Pictures Christmas special.”
Rob Brydon returns for his twelfth Donaldson and Scheffler adaptation in the multiple vocal roles of Fisherman, Whale, Starfish and Anchovy.
Ghosts actress Lolly Adefope to voice Miss Skate in new BBC animation
‘I’ve loved reading the Julia and Axel books to my daughter over the years and it’s wonderful to be able to bring one of them to the screen in this beautiful animation.’
The film is the twelfth animated special of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s work to be produced by Magic Light Pictures for the BBC.
Last year’s animation, Tabby McTat, had an audience of 8.6 million people tuning in to see the heartwarming story of a street musician and his cat.
Lindsay Salt, Head of BBC Drama, says: ‘Magic Light’s adaptations of Julia and Axel’s work have truly established themselves as part of our national fabric, thanks to their winning ability to take us into wonderful worlds filled with loveable characters.
‘We can’t wait to introduce viewers to Tiddler, the little fish who is sure to cause a big stir when he arrives on the BBC this Christmas.’
Magic Light’s previous adaptations of works by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
