Julia Donaldson fans given first-look at BBC Christmas special The Baddies

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A preview image for The Baddies Christmas special, starring Gavin & Stacey actors Sheridan Smith, Rob Brydon and Alison Steadman, has been unveiled.

The fairytale comedy follows a witch, a ghost and a troll who declare themselves the baddest of all, taking joy in bothering everyone they encounter.

However, when challenged to steal a girl’s blue spotty hanky, the trio realise they may have met their match.

The special is adapted from The Baddies book written by Dame Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler.

Smith, who will voice the narrator, 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.”

Steadman, voicing the witch, said: “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.”

A number of Dame Julia’s books have already been adapted by Magic Light Pictures for BBC Christmas specials including The Gruffalo, Zog and The Scarecrows’ Wedding, with the previous adaptations available on iPlayer.

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.

The Baddies is directed by Andy Martin and Sarah-Jane Knox, and produced by Barney Goodland and Martin Pope of Magic Light Pictures.

It comes after Dame Julia released a third instalment in her popular children’s series, The Gruffalo.

The work, titled Gruffalo Granny, came more than 20 years after The Gruffalo’s Child, which was published in 2004.

It follows the Gruffalo and his daughter as they venture into the deep dark wood to prepare a meal for Granny’s visit.

Featuring illustrations from Scheffler, the work weaves in classic characters Fox, Owl, and Snake.

Donaldson’s other notable works include Room on the Broom, Stick Man and The Snail and the Whale.

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