Duo to play Father Christmases in new Sky comedy

James Nesbitt and Timothy Spall are to play two different Santas in a Sky Christmas comedy special provisionally titled Joy To The World.

It revolves around 12-year-old Mikey Collins, who’s dirt-poor and hates Christmas, who finds two Father Christmases in the woods.

One has just robbed a bank (Nesbitt) and is on the run with the cash, the other (Timothy Spall) claims to have fallen out of his sleigh. Mikey has no time for this second guy but is instead determined to get his hands on the bank-robber’s cash.

The 90-minute show will be shot in Belfast and has been written by Ronan Blaney – who wrote the Christmas episode of The Cleaner with Greg Davies.

Spall said: ‘I’m delighted to be involved with this unique festive adventure. It’s a rare thing that a story has the perfect mixture of social commentary grit, suspense, emotional bite and original comedy, plus a myriad of Santas (one of them possibly the real one).

Nesbitt added: ‘It is incredibly exciting to be back in Belfast and part of something that is both funny, heartwarming and yet which also holds a mirror up to society. 

‘The script lifts your spirits while brilliantly addressing the cost of living crisis affecting so many families in the UK and Ireland right now. It’s also a joy to be reunited with my old cell mate Timothy Spall.’

The pair starred together in the 2001 crime caper Lucky Break – where Nesbitt was again a bank robber.

Published: 2 Feb 2023