Adjoa Andoh, Benedict Cumberbatch, Miriam Margolyes and Claire Foy star in Mog’s Christmas. 

After the BBC recently revealed the star power behind this year’s Julia Donaldson animation, Channel 4 have come back strong. Their festive offering, Mog’s Christmas, boasts not only a Hollywood star, but a Queen and a national treasure too!

Produced by Lupus Films, Mog’s Christmas comes from the team who worked on The Tiger Who Came to Tea.

In Mog’s Christmas Mr and Mrs Thomas and their children Debbie and Nicky are busy making preparations for Christmas. With two Aunts and a jolly Uncle also staying in the house, Mog, the beloved family cat, is feeling a bit ignored. When Mr Thomas and the two children arrive home with an enormous Christmas tree, Mog takes fright and scrambles onto the roof for safety. Regardless of the Thomas family’s attempts to rescue her, Mog doesn’t manage to come down. Despite everyone’s fears, Mog has a magical night in the snow with a cat themed Christmas dream. The next morning on Christmas day, when a hungry Mog hears the mention of breakfast, she falls down the chimney and arrives in the kitchen to the surprise and relief of all the family. At last Mog has everyone’s attention, and a Happy Christmas is had by all!

The cast

Adjoa Andoh narrates, leading an ensemble which includes Claire Foy, Benedict Cumberbatch, Miriam Margolyes, Maggie Steed, Zawe Ashton, Charlie Higson and Gareth Berliner. Amelie Law and Teddy Skelton provide the children’s voices, with Tacy Kneale, Judith Kerr’s daughter, contributing Mog’s purrs and miaows.

Of her part in the programme, Tacy Kneale said:

‘Our own Mog was a huge part of my childhood. I hope I’ve done her justice!’

Created by the author and illustrator Judith Kerr, the Mog series of books started with Mog the Forgetful Cat and has never been out of print. The warm-hearted and funny adventures went on to inspire a further 17 picture books in the series, selling over four million copies worldwide and translated into 21 languages.

Mog’s Christmas is directed by Robin Shaw and written by Joanna Harrison. It’s a Lupus Films production in association with Tabby Tales, HarperCollins Children’s Books and Universal Pictures Content Group for Channel 4 Television.