David Farnor | On 09, Oct 2020

Sir Lenny Henry, Rob Brydon, Patsy Ferran and Hugh Skinner will lead the cast of this year’s Donaldson and Scheffler sequel for BBC One, Zog and the Flying Doctors.

Magic Light Pictures, the multi Oscar-nominated production company, has created a tradition of festive family treats for BBC audiences for over a decade. This Christmas 2020, they’re flying in a sequel to 2018’s Zog: Zog And The Flying Doctors.

Sir Lenny Henry will lead the cast as the Narrator, joined by Rob Brydon (Gavin & Stacey) as King, Patsy Ferran (Laurence Olivier award winner) as Princess Pearl, Hugh Skinner (Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again) as Zog, Daniel Ings (The Crown) as Sir Gadabout, Mark Bonnar (Quiz, Catastrophe) as Unicorn, Lucian Msamati (Talking Heads) as Lion and Alexandra Roach (Utopia) as Mermaid.

In Zog and the Flying Doctors, Zog, Pearl and Gadabout are now a flying doctor trio, caring for creatures including a mermaid, a unicorn and a sneezy lion. However, when bad weather forces them to land at the palace, Pearl is locked up by her uncle, the King. Zog and Gadabout try in vain to set her free. Pearl gets a chance to escape, but instead decides to stay and care for the ill King, in the process gaining his respect, regaining his love and with it her freedom.

The book was written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. It was first published by Scholastic in 2016 and marks the eighth adaptation by Magic Light Pictures of a Donaldson/Scheffler title for BBC One.

 

BBC orders Zog And The Flying Doctors for Christmas 2020

13th November 2019

BBC One is starting its Christmas shopping early, ordering a sequel to animated family adventure Zog for next year.

Magic Light Pictures, the multi Oscar-nominated and Bafta Award-winning production company, has announced a new adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s children’s book Zog And The Flying Doctors, the companion title to Zog.

The first Zog film was a roaring success from Christmas 2018 and has recently been nominated for an International Kids Emmy and won a number of other awards. In the new film Zog, Pearl and Gadabout are now a flying doctor trio, caring for creatures including a mermaid, a unicorn and a sneezy lion. However when bad weather forces them to land at the palace, Pearl is locked up by her uncle, the king. Zog and Gadabout try to set her free. However when their attempts fail, Pearl has to come up with the best way of all to regain her freedom.

The animated half hour will be produced by Michael Rose and Martin Pope of Magic Light, and directed by Sean Mullen. Animation services will be provided by Giant Animation in Dublin. The special has been acquired by Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of Content and Tommy Bulfin, Commissioning Editor, BBC Drama.

Moore says: “BBC One will be home to another favourite Donaldson and Scheffler adaptation for Christmas 2020, once again continuing our collaboration with the award winning Magic Light Pictures on the fabulously original sequel to the best-selling Zog – Zog And The Flying Doctors.”

The book of Zog And The Flying Doctors is written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Together Julia and Axel are the UK’s most successful picture book creators. Zog and the Flying Doctors was first published by Scholastic in 2016 and is the eighth adaptation by Magic Light Pictures of a Donaldson/Scheffler title. The Snail And The Whale, based on another of their books, will premiere on BBC One this Christmas.

Add to Watchlist