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BBC to air adaptation of Donaldson and Scheffler’s Tabby McTat this Christmas
The BBC will air an adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Tabby McTat (Alison Green) this Christmas, produced by Magic Light Pictures.
The animated adventure is set on the streets of London and is about the “warm and wonderful friendship between a musical cat and a talented busker called Fred”. One day when chasing a thief, Fred falls and breaks his leg and is whisked away in an ambulance. What will become of the busker’s cat left alone on the city streets?
The film stars Rob Brydon as Fred, Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísú as Tabby, Cariad Lloyd as Prunella, Joanna Scanlan as Pat, Jodie Whittaker as the narrator, and Susan Wokoma as Sock. Animation services are provided by Red Star Studio.
Donaldson said: “I used to love busking with my husband Malcolm when we were living in Bristol, and also in Paris. We also both love cats – in fact, we’ve just acquired two new kittens named Tabitha and McTat. So, this story is really close to my heart and combines two of my passions: singing and cats!”
Producer Barney Goodland said: “Julia and Axel’s book is a beautiful, heart-warming story that we’re delighted to be adapting for BBC viewers this Christmas. The friendship between Fred and Tabby is a truly special one and the film explores how their relationship changes unexpectedly as their lives move forward and, ultimately, how they learn to embrace that change.”
Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama. said: “Magic Light’s hugely entertaining adaptations of Julia and Axel’s works have been delighting families and viewers of all ages for over a decade now. I know that Tabby is a character loved by many, so I could not be happier that he’ll be brought to life this Christmas on BBC One and iPlayer.”
“Tabby McTat” is directed by Sarah Scrimgeour and Jac Hamman, written by Max Lang and Suzanne Lang, and produced by Barney Goodland and Michael Rose of Magic Light Pictures. The film was acquired by Charlotte Moore, BBC chief content officer, and Nawfal Faizullah, BBC Drama commissioning editor.
