David Walliams, Benedict Cumberbatch and more will appear in Channel 4’s take on The Tiger Who Came To Tea, which will air this Christmas…

Channel 4 has released a first look trailer for its animated The Tiger Who Came To Tea special.

Benedict Cumberbatch and David Walliams are joined in the voice cast by Tamsin Greig, David Oyelowo and Paul Whitehouse. Cumberbatch plays Daddy, Grieg is Mummy, Oyelowo is the Tiger, Walliams is the Narrator and Whitehouse is the Milkman. Rounding out the cast is Clara Ross, a seven-year-old newcomer that will make her TV debut by voicing the central role of Sophie.

Based on the classic children’s book by the late Judith Kerr OBE, the half-hour film hopes bring to life the vivid images and irresistible story of the classic picture book and turn it into a festive family treat.

Walliams says this about the project: “I knew Judith well and I really adored her. She was an incredible inspiration – her work is so brilliant. The book is a thing of beauty – there isn’t a word out of place, the illustrations are just gorgeous. I really wanted to be a part of it and I was chuffed that she wanted me to narrate. I’m so proud to be associated with it because it’s a stone cold classic. Just like the book has been around for over 50 years, hopefully the animation will have this incredible longevity too.”

Joanna Harrison, co-director of We’re Going On A Bear Hunt and co-writer/art director of The Snowman And The Snowdog, was in charge of adapting the book to the screen.

The Tiger Who Came To Tea will air on Tuesday December 24th at 7:30pm.