Sue Johnston to star in Christmas Comedy Lapland

Sue Johnston is to star in a one-off Christmas comedy special.  The Royle Family actress will appear in Lapland – a 90 minute show to be broadcast on BBC One over the festive season – alongside ‘This Is England’ actor Stephen Graham and Waterloo Road star William Ash.

The show, which will also star Elizabeth Berrington, Julie Graham, Zawe Ashton and Keith Barron, sees Sue play family matriarch Eileen Lewis who saves each year for a special Christmas to remember.  This year, the Lewis clan decide to go to Lapland on a package trip to meet Father Christmas – but end up getting a lot more than they bargained for.

Sue said: “Lapland won’t know what’s hit it when the Lewis family arrive, it’s a hopeful, bittersweet comedy and I’m delighted to be a part of it.”

The programme is shot both in the UK and on location in Finland and the BBC are thrilled with the story.

Mark Freeland, Head of In-House Comedy, said: “I am delighted that we are bringing a little bit of Lapland magic to BBC One this Christmas with Michael Wynne’s comedy special. You can take the family out of Birkenhead, but you can’t take Birkenhead out of the family.”

Producer Rosemary McGowan added “Michael Wynne has skilfully brought to life one ordinary family’s chaotic experience of Christmas in a way that will have people all over the country chuckling in recognition. Funny, warm but also moving.”