A festive anthology series of short, self-contained dramas from a host of celebrated writers and directors.
This collection of eleven short films was commissioned under the working title “12 Days of Christmas” to be broadcast on consecutive nights. Each story offers a snapshot of modern life during the festive season, with tones ranging from magical fantasy to sober realism. In Neil Gaiman’s “Statuesque”, a man named Mr Jellaby (Bill Nighy) finds himself falling for Yvette (Amanda Palmer), a living statue. In William Boyd’s “The Three Kings”, three soldiers (Chuk Iwuji, Daniel Kaluuya, Andrew Simpson) on duty in a war zone happen upon an unusual nativity scene. Other tales include a family Christmas road trip in Lucy Gannon’s “The Walkers” and a hospital-set drama on Christmas Eve in Roy Williams’ “Let It Snow”.
The project was a significant statement of intent from Sky One, demonstrating its commitment to original British drama. The series is notable for the remarkable concentration of talent it attracted for what were essentially cinematic stocking-fillers. The anthology structure provided a platform for a formidable roster of writers, directors, and actors to create concise, impactful stories without the obligations of a returning series. The calibre of contributors, which included writers Neil Gaiman and William Boyd, director Richard Eyre, and actors Timothy Spall, Peter Capaldi, and Bill Nighy, gave the enterprise a distinct prestige.
Broadcast: Sky One, 11 Episodes, 21 December – 31 December 2009
Writers included: Neil Gaiman, William Boyd, Roy Williams, Lucy Gannon, Tony Grisoni
Directors included: Richard Eyre, Neil Gaiman, Sam Miller, Lia Williams
Executive Producers: Elaine Pyke, Huw Kennair-Jones, Ann Harrison-Baxter
Producers: Hilary Bevan Jones, Timothy Bricknell, Dan McCulloch
Main Cast included: Timothy Spall (Man), Natascha McElhone (Woman), Stephen Mangan (Tom), Mackenzie Crook (Joe), Angela Griffin (Clare), Bill Nighy (Mr Jellaby), Peter Capaldi (The Man), Claire Foy (Woman), Riz Ahmed (Joseph), Daniel Kaluuya (Soldier 2), Ross Kemp (Liam), Elizabeth McGovern (Ex Wife)
