15th July 2006
 

Sky One Announce Start Of Production And Full Cast List For Terry Pratchett’s HOGFATHER

On 26 April Sky One and RHI Entertainment announced the commencement of production for Terry Pratchett’s  Hogfather, comprising a combination of some of the most established and exciting British talent around.

Joining David Jason, already confirmed to play the key role of ‘Albert’, are; Joss Ackland (White Mischief, Midsommer Murders) as ‘Mustrum Ridcully’, Marc Warren (Hustle, State of Play, Band of Brothers) in the role of ‘Teatime’, David Warner (Planet of The Apes, The Omen) as Lord Downey and Nigel Planer (The Young Ones) as ‘Mr. Sideney’, while Ian Richardson (House of Cards, The Final Cut) and Neil Pearson (Bridget Jones’s Diary, Drop The Dead Donkey) will voice the characters of ‘Death’ and ‘The Raven’ respectively. Michelle Dockery (Fingersmith) will take one of the principle roles as ‘Susan’.

Adding to the calibre of a first rate British cast will be; Peter Guinness (Sleepy Hollow, Coronation Street) as ‘Medium Dave’, Stephen Marcus (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) as ‘Banjo’, Sinead Matthews (Pride And Prejudice) as ‘Violet The Tooth Fairy’, Rhodri Meilir (My Family) as ‘Bilious’, Arthur White (A Touch of Frost, The Darling Buds of May) as ‘Ernie The Cart Driver’ and Tony Robinson (Black Adder series, Time Team) as ‘Vernon Crumley’. Full cast list follows below.

Production is now underway at Three Mills Studios in London with completion projected for late June, to be followed by over 1,000 hours of scheduled CGI work with The Moving Picture Company. Further exciting news for Discworld fans is the confirmed guest appearance of Terry Pratchett himself in a cameo role.

Richard Woolfe, Director of Programmes Sky One Two and Three, commented: “We are absolutely delighted to have secured such an incredible depth of British talent to star in this ground-breaking adaptation. We truly couldn’t have asked for more in terms of experience, talent and excitement from a cast that between them carry both the heritage and future of British drama and comedy.

The project marks the first ever live action / CGI film of Discworld and its characters, and the 2 x 120” HD film airs on Sky One in Christmas 2006.  RHI Entertainment have secured the international distribution rights.

Terry Pratchett has sold over 45m books worldwide and is the UK’s second most popular contemporary author based on book sales. The British author’s Discworld books are translated into 35 languages and he has won numerous prestigious literary awards, was named an Officer of the British Empire for services to literature and commands a huge fan base across the globe.

HOGFATHER is adapted for the screen and directed by Vadim Jean (Leon the Pig Farmer) and produced by Rod Brown (Dream Team, Goal) and Ian Sharples (The Virgin of Liverpool} for the Mob Film Company. Elaine Pyke (Dream Team, Hex) executive produces for Sky One and Robert Halmi Sr (Dinotopia) is the executive producer for RHI Entertainment.

HOGFATHER is set to transmit on Sky One at Christmas 2006.

Full cast list is as follows:

Sir David Jason    -    ‘Albert’

Joss Ackland    -    ‘Mustrum Ridcully’

Marc Warren    -    ‘Teatime’

David Warner    -    ‘Lord Downey’

Ian Richardson    -    ‘Voice of Death’

Michelle Dockery    -    ‘Susan’

Tony Robinson    -    ‘Vernon Crumley’

Nigel Planer    -    ‘Mr. Sideney’

Rhodri Meilir    -    ‘Bilious’

Peter Guinness    -    ‘Medium Dave’

Neil Pearson    -    ‘The Raven’

Sinead Matthews    -    ‘Violet’

Stephen Marcus    -    ‘Banjo’

Craig Conway    -    ‘Chickenwire’

Roger Frost    -    ‘Bursar’

Ed Coleman    -    ‘Ponder Stibbons’

John Boswall    -    ‘Chair or Indefinite Studies’

Marnix Van Den Broeke    -    ‘Death’

Shend    -    ‘Hogfather’

Richard Katz    -    ‘Constable Visit’

Tim Plester    -    ‘The Tooth Guard’

Arthur White    -    ‘Ernie The Cart Driver’

Nicolas Tennant    -    ‘Corporal Nobbs’

Dominic Borrelli    -    ‘Grotto Hogfather’

John Franklyn-Robbins    -    ‘The Dean’

Don Wetherhead    -    ‘The Bogeyman’

Gregor Henderson-Begg    -    ‘Pixie Helper’

Deborah Winckles    -    ‘Mrs. Gaiter’

Robert Portal    -    ‘Mr. Gaiter’

Maggie McCarthy    -    ‘Ma Lillywhite’

Rachel Edwards    -    ‘Bobble Hat Child’s Mother’ 

15/07/2006