Star cast for BBC One’s Gangsta Granny

Julia McKenzie, Joanna Lumley, Rob Brydon and Miranda Hart are to star in the television adaption of best-selling children’s novel Gangsta Granny by David Walliams.

I am thrilled that we have such a stellar cast of comedy legends for Gangsta Granny. I can only apologise that I am in it too! – David Walliams

The one-off hour-long special comes from the BAFTA-nominated team behind 2012’s Mr Stink and co-written by Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley with David, the comedy drama tells the story of schoolboy Ben (Reece Buttery), who is bored beyond belief after he is made to stay at the house of his grandma, played by Julia McKenzie; all she ever wants to do is stay in, play Scrabble, and eat cabbage soup.

Until one day, when Ben’s grandma tells him a story that she was once an international jewel thief, and together they go on a wild adventure to complete the one heist she never quite managed in her criminal heyday – which brings them face-to-face with Her Majesty The Queen, played by Joanna Lumley.

David Walliams and Miranda Hart appear as Ben’s Strictly Come Dancing obsessed parents, Mike & Linda.

Rob Brydon plays Mr Parker – a nosy neighbour who could scupper Ben and his grandma’s plot; and Jocelyn Jee Esien (3 Non Blondes, Little Miss Jocelyn) appears as Kelly, the pushy mother of Florence (India Ria Amarteifio) with whom Ben has to dance in a local ballroom competition.

Harish Patel, Max Olesker, and Steven Spiers also appear in the cast.

David asked us not to muck up his massively popular book on TV. So we cast him and then added some of the most-loved and wonderful comedy actors in the country. I hope it will be a very special Special. – Mark Freeland, BBC UK Controller of Comedy Production

Gangsta Granny begins filming on Sunday, for broadcast this Christmas on BBC One.