FIRST LOOK The Baddies

This year's festive special follows the success of recent adaptations, The Gruffalo, Zog and The Scarecrows’ Wedding.

BBC One has revealed a first look at The Baddies, this year's festive adaptation of Julia Donaldson's picture book, illustrated by Axel Scheffler. It's the latest adaptation following the success of recent adaptations, The Gruffalo, Zog and The Scarecrows’ Wedding.

The Baddies will air this Christmas, and promises to be a laugh-out-loud festive special about triumphing over the worst baddies around.

It's a story about the worst Baddies in the world. In this fairytale comedy, a Troll, a Witch and a Ghost proclaim themselves the baddest of them all, delighting in tormenting everyone they meet. But when they’re challenged to steal the girl’s blue spotty hanky, they discover they may have met their match.

Sheridan Smith narrates the half-hour special, joined by a voice cast including Alison Steadman as Witch, Hammed Animashaun as Troll, Robyn Cara as Girl, Francesca Mills as Mouse, and Rob Brydon returning for his 14th Donaldson and Scheffler adaptation as the boastful Ghost.

When a girl with a blue spotty hanky moves into a cottage nearby, the Baddies quarrel about all the nasty tricks they want to play on her. Then a mouse sets a challenge for the Baddies to see who can steal the hanky.

Soon, they learn that they may have met their match in the little girl. Packed with mischief, humour and heart, this fun adventure is a celebration of courage, kindness and the power of standing up to bullies.

Speaking ahead of The Baddies airing, Sheridan Smith 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."

To which Alison Steadman added "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."

Made by Magic Light Pictures, The Baddies is their 14th adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's picture books and is directed by Andy Martin and Sarah-Jane Knox, produced by Barney Goodland and Martin Pope, with animation services provided by Triggerfish Animation.

The Baddies will air this Christmas on BBC One