Channel 4 and Lupus Films have announced that Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange), David Oyelowo (A Wrinkle in Time), Tamsin Greig (Friday Night Dinner), David Walliams (Little Britain), Paul Whitehouse (The Fast Show) and seven-year-old newcomer Clara Ross are set to lend their voices to an animated adaptation of Judith Kerr’s classic children’s book The Tiger Who Came To Tea.
Published back in 1968, The Tiger Who Came To Tea tells the story of a rather unexpected guest – a big, furry tiger (Oyelowo) – who turns up at Sophie’s (Ross) house just as she is about to sit down for tea with Mummy (Greig) and proceeds to eat them out of house and home. Walliams will serve as narrator, with Cumberbatch as Daddy and Whitehouse as the Milkman.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to be playing a small part in bringing Judith Kerr’s timeless children’s classic to the screen for another generation to enjoy,” said Cumberbatch, with Oyelowo adding: “Who wouldn’t jump at the chance to play the iconic tiger from The Tiger Who Came To Tea? He’s a big cat of few words because he’s too busy eating! But I relished all of the growling, chomping and slurping, which called on me to find my inner cat.”
The Tiger Who Came To Tea continues the relationship between Channel 4 and Lupus after 2016’s hugely successful We’re Going On a Bear Hunt will be produced in Lupus’ distinctive hand-drawn animation style.
