In the battle of the animated Christmas specials, Sky Atlantic HD is entering the fray with Uncle Wormsley’s Christmas on Christmas Eve.
While the BBC has put its money on witchy capers with Room on the Broom and Channel 4 is investing in the sequel to the wintry but heartwarming The Snowman, Sky will air the tale of a decayed old man with a monstrous crab in his dungeon, narrated by Steve Coogan.
Produced by Baby Cow, Uncle Wormsley’s Christmas is described as “an animated children’s cautionary tale with a dark heart.”
Uncle Wormsley is a grey, decaying old man who dedicates his life to the care of his only friend, a monstrous crab called Crabsley who lives in a dungeon under his house. Across town lives Johnnie Goodington, a rich boy who has everything money could buy except one thing – a giant monstrous crab. One Christmas, Johnnie’s father strikes a deal with the mysterious and shadowy Crab Catchers. Johnnie shall have his Giant crab, but dark forces have been unleashed.
Uncle Wormsley’s Christmas is voiced by Julian Barrett, Julia Davis, John Thomson and Ben Baker, alongside Steve Coogan as the narrator.
The thirty minute animation from Baby Cow Productions is written by Joel Veitch and Tim Gallagher, and directed by David Shute. The producer is Tim Searle.
The animation forms part of Sky Atlantic’s Comedy Mondays.
Room On The Broom is produced by Michael Rose and Martin Pope of Magic Light Pictures (The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child, Chico & Rita). The Snowman and the Snowdog is a Snowman Enterprises film, made with Lupus Films and directed by Hilary Audus.
Pippa Considine
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