Professor Branestawm

For his first dramatic acting role, comic Harry Hill was desperate to play the original Nutty Professor from Norman Hunter's children stories.

Swapping his trademark ear-skimming collars for Branestawm's multiple pairs of glasses, he's the perfect fit for the role in this one-off special penned by Charlie Higson - which we predict will be the first of many.

The Fast Show's Higson, a best-selling children's author, has added some modern touches of his own that should strike a chord with a brand new TV generation raised on sonic screwdrivers.

By far the most significant is the addition of a determined young sidekick called Connie (Madeline Holliday) who is fed up with being taught useless subjects at school.

Even though Branestawm may be the worst science teacher you could imagine, I practically cheered to hear Connie say that she wanted to learn about civil engineering.

As the Professor's inventions bring chaos to the village of Great Pagwell, Hill is joined by another Fast Show stalwart, Simon Day, as Branestawm's best friend Colonel Dedshott.

David Mitchell plays his nemesis, the officious councillor Harold Haggerstone who wants to shut down Branestawm's "Inventory" and Vicki Pepperdine is his housekeeper Mrs Flittersnoop.

It's all hugely silly, but perfect family entertainment nevertheless.

A nostalgic big-brushstrokes comedy, with Harry Hill's wide-eyed stare a good fit for the manic Professor Branestawm and his hare-brained Heath Robinson-style inventions: a machine for herding cats, a robot father and - "imagine that!" - a portable telephone device. David Mitchell and Ben Miller ham it up as the panto villains trying to put a damper on things.

Professor Branestawm: Why you should tune in

Although he's supported by a starry British cast including the always brilliant Vicki Pepperdine, Simon Day, David Mitchell and Ben Miller this is definitely Hill's big outing, and whether you enjoy it or not obviously depends on whether you actually like the former comedian turned King of Bloopers.

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Radio Times review

There are certain RT people who have very fond memories of Norman Hunter's Professor Branestawm books from our primary school days and even after all these years we're a bit protective. But I think we're in safe hands, judging by the few clips that were available for preview. Harry Hill, a long-time master of eye-popping anarchy, actually looks the part of Hunter's bonkers, absent-minded inventor, a good-hearted buffoon who never does anything right.

Branestawm is the bane of his pretty village, Pagwell, where a buttoned-up, officious windbag of a councillor, Harold Haggerstone (David Mitchell), decides he's a menace to health and safety and wants his explosion-prone "workshop" closed down.

But of course this pettifogging bureaucrat has an ulterior motive: he wants to pave the way for evil businessman Mr Bullimore (Ben Miller) to open a munitions factory. It's deliciously old-fashioned, and could well be a lot of fun.

TV preview: Professor Branestawm

Charlie Higson says "It's very satisfying bringing to life a book that you love. You do worry about not doing it justice, but hopefully it will help revive people's interest in Norman Hunter's wonderful books."

Professor Branestawm: a great Christmas treat

The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm is overall a triumph. Harry Hill is marvellous as the bonkers, yet lovable Professor. The show is fun, innovative and entertaining and it could easily be worth creating a series out of the strength of this special, and I for one would love to see the return of Harry in this debut role.

Professor Branestawm review

In spite of my issues with the recurrent use of CGI, the scattershot humour and how wasted the stars were in bit parts, I enjoyed The Incredible Adventures Of Professor Branestawm.

Harry Hill: BBC One Branestawm bags its boffin

It wasn't too much of a stretch for Harry Hill to play Professor Branestawm.

Professor Branestawm preview

In this digital age, there's no reason for the Christmas Eve movie to be some Disney fare that we've all have seen twenty times already. A better gift to the nation is something like this: and with twelve books to plunder, we might well make a Christmas wish for a whole new series.