BBC1’s adaptation of David Walliam’s best-selling book Billionaire Boy will star Cold Feet’s John Thomson, The Thick of It’s Rebecca Front and Walliams as a “dirty old” dinner lady.
The book, the fourth Walliams novel to be adapted by the BBC, is being made as an hour-long special that will air as part of the BBC’s festive season of shows.
The book follows the story of Len, who makes a billion from inventing a new toilet roll, and his 12-year-old son, Joe, who appears to have everything but what he really needs is a friend.
The cast includes Thomson as Len with Front playing Joe’s “firm but fair opera-loving teacher”. Joe will be played by Elliot Sprakes in his first major TV role.
Walliams will play the role of Mrs Trafe, a dinner lady at Joe’s school, who is described as “dirty and old and who is dreadful at cooking”.
The cast also includes Warwick Davis, whose credits include TV series Life’s Too Short and films Willow and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, who will play himself in the role of Joe’s celebrity butler.
“I am thrilled we have put together another all-star cast of comedy greats for this adaptation,” said Walliams. “The script is bigger and better than the book and I am excited for everyone to see it on BBC1 at Christmas.”
The BBC is also promising that there will be a cameo performance from a “very special” mystery guest.
Last year, the BBC’s adaptation of Walliams’ Gangsta Granny scored a coup by signing up Robbie Williams and comedian Miranda Hart.
The programme was commissioned by Shane Allen, BBC controller of comedy commissioning and Charlotte Moore, BBC1 controller.
Filming, which begins next week in Sheffield and Rotherham, will feature local school children from Oakwood High School in Rotherham, who will appear as Joe’s class mates.
