Lenny Rush, Greg Davies, James Buckley, Ele Mackenzie, Rochenda Sandall, Stephen Fry, Jason Fox, Asim Chaudhry, Hannah Fry and Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock — **Top:** Lenny Rush, Greg Davies, James Buckley, Ele Mackenzie, Rochenda Sandall. **Bottom:** Stephen Fry, Jason Fox, Asim Chaudhry, Hannah Fry, Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock.

Lenny Rush, James Buckley, Greg Davies, Asim Chaudhry, Rochenda Sandall, Ele Mackenzie, Stephen Fry, Hannah Fry, Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock and Jason Fox join the cast.

A heart-warming and hilarious 1x75’ festive drama written by Mark Chappell (BAFTA Film Award-nominated See How They Run, Is This Thing On?, A Young Doctor’s Notebook, Cold Feet), produced by Big Talk Studios (Ludwig, Mitchell and Webb Are Not Helping), and co-produced by South Shore Productions (Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams).

Dear Father Christmas (w/t) follows 16-year-old Chris (BAFTA TV Award winner Lenny Rush, Am I Being Unreasonable?, A Woman of Substance), who still wholeheartedly believes in Father Christmas. His concerned dad (BAFTA TV Award nominee James Buckley, The Inbetweeners) decides it’s finally time to have “the talk” and tell him the truth. But Chris refuses to give up on Santa and embarks on a madcap mission to prove his dad wrong.

Joined by his cousin Holly (Ele Mackenzie, Funboys), Chris’s journey takes him into the heart of a Christmas conspiracy. Along the way he meets a cabal of scientists and thinkers – including Stephen Fry, Hannah Fry, Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock, and Jason Fox – who seem to know the truth about Santa and may have cracked the science behind his apparent magical feats.

On his adventure Chris encounters a variety of Santas and Santa experts, but will he find the real Father Christmas?

Also starring in Dear Father Christmas (w/t) are BAFTA TV Award nominee Greg Davies (The Cleaner, Man Down), Asim Chaudhry (BAFTA TV Award-winning People Just Do Nothing), and Rochenda Sandall (Line of Duty, The Rig, Amandaland).

Blending comedy, adventure and heart, the film celebrates the magic of Christmas and the bond between father and son, while honouring the memory of Chris’s late mum and the traditions she cherished most.

The 1x75’ film was commissioned by Shaminder Nahal, Head of Specialist Factual, Jonah Weston, commissioning editor for specialist factual and Andy Brereton, Senior Commissioning Editor, Comedy at Channel 4, and is executive produced by Kenton Allen, Luke Alkin, and Toby Welch for Big Talk Studios, Mark Chappell, and Andrew Mackenzie for South Shore Productions. Anthony Wilcox is the director and an executive producer, and Spencer Millman is the producer. Big Talk Studios and South Shore Productions are both part of ITV Studios.

Dear Father Christmas (w/t) will air on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2025 on Channel 4.

Jonah Weston, Commissioning Editor Specialist Factual said: “Dear Father Christmas is Channel 4’s big festive treat for 2025. Mark Chappell’s brilliant script weaves together family comedy, heartfelt drama and a playful look at the science of Santa, brought to life by a cast packed with some of Britain’s best-loved stars. It’s a film full of joy, adventure and wonder, and we’re thrilled to be sharing it with viewers this Christmas.”

Kenton Allen, Executive Producer for Big Talk Studios, said: “At its heart, Dear Father Christmas is a joyful celebration of belief, family and the enduring magic of Christmas. Mark Chappell’s brilliant script brings together an extraordinary cast – from comedy icons to national treasures – who all share in telling a story that is both laugh-out-loud funny and genuinely moving. We can’t wait to share it with Channel 4 audiences this Christmas.”

Andrew Mackenzie, Executive Producer for South Shore Productions, said: “It’s been a joy to see Mark and the talented folk at Big Talk bring this magical story alive.”

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