Morecambe & Wise join Sky Christmas comedy with Jo Brand & Nish Kumar
Morecambe & Wise are synonymous with Christmas for many people, and now Sky have resurrected them for a festive film.
Acclaimed impersonators Jonty Stephens and Ian Ashpitel portray the iconic duo as the Ghosts of Christmas Past in Christmas Carole, Sky Max's reimagining of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. Starring Suranne Jones as a Scrooge-like online entrepreneur, the film also features Jo Brand as the Ghost of Christmas Present.
And Nish Kumar as the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
Images released by Sky show A Touch Of Cloth star Jones, Stephen and Ashpitel recreating newsreader Angela Rippon's memorable, high-kicking appearance with Morecambe & Wise on their 1976 Christmas special, when their peak time festive extravaganzas were essential viewing. Indeed, their 1977 show attracted an audience of more than 28 million viewers.
"Very excited to finally let you know what @ashpitel and myself have been working on" Stephens wrote on Twitter. "Hope you'll enjoy it. It was a joy!"
Stephens and Ashpitel have been performing their 'Eric and Little Ern' tribute on stage and screen since 2013, making their debut at the Edinburgh Fringe and landing an Olivier Award nomination the following year.
In Christmas Carole, their ghosts urge Jones's eponymous businesswoman to change her cruel and selfish ways. You can watch the trailer here:
Meanwhile, the film also marks the latest chapter in Kumar's nascent acting career.
British Comedy Guide reported last month on Aisling Bea's starring role in the upcoming film And Mrs, alongside Colin Hanks and Billie Lourd, about a woman who presses ahead with marrying her fiancé, despite him having just died.
Having already noted the presence of Ever Decreasing Circles star Peter Egan and Detectorists' Divian Ladwa in the cast, it has since emerged that former Late Night Mash star Kumar also has a role, as do Susan Wokoma, Paul Kaye, Sunil Patel and Gabby Best, alongside the likes of Sinead Cusack, Downton Abbey's Elizabeth McGovern and Omari Douglas (It's A Sin).