Eric Idle To Star In BBC Two Christmas Special

Eric Idle is to star in a one-hour Christmas Special for BBC Two, Shane Allen has announced.

The Entire Universe is a unique collaboration from the creators of Spamalot, starring Professor Brian Cox, and combines fascinating facts about the birth of the universe with larger-than-life comedy characters penned by the legendary Eric Idle.

In the special programme, Professor Brian Cox will initially appear in the manner to which he is accustomed by giving an auspicious scientific Christmas lecture.

However, upon turning up to the infamous Rutland Weekend Television, he soon realises he is in fact in a major musical put on by the Muriel Tritt School of Music and Dance, choreographed by Arlene Phillips.

Throughout the programme, Professor Brian Cox continues to patiently mentor Eric in an attempt to make up for his entire lack of education in science. The result is an extraordinary explosion of comedy, music and dance depicting the birth of The Entire Universe - in just one hour.

Alongside Brian and Eric in an out-of-this-world plot, Warwick Davis plays the part of The Big Bang, Noel Fielding takes on Einstein and Hannah Waddingham tackles time, while Robin Ince attempts to keep order.

Commenting on the new special, Eric Idle said: "I am very pleased that Rutland Weekend Television is back on BBC TV with a Christmas Special only 41 years after its last one. The world's smallest TV station takes on the world's largest subject: the entire universe.

"It's fitting that 41 years after Rutland Weekend Television produced a Christmas special with George Harrison, it is back with the Beatle of Science, Brian Cox. No doubt what Rutland did for TV in the 70s it will now do for science - and set it back 40 years."

Shane Allen, Controller, Comedy Commissioning, also said: "Rutland Weekend Television gave us Beatles spoof 'The Rutles' and now with The Entire Universe, Eric Idle is giving musical comedy fans the best Christmas present ever."

And Brian Cox added: "I've made many television documentaries over the years, and a constant complaint has been that the music is too loud and obscures the science. This undermines my credibility as a serious scientist. I expect The Entire Universe to be the final nail in the coffin."

The Entire Universe will be illustrated with songs by Eric Idle and John Du Prez and choreographed by Arlene Phillips.
It was commissioned by Shane Allen, Controller of BBC Comedy Commissioning and is a BBC Studios Comedy Production. The Producer is Lisa Clark. It will be filmed at the BBC's studios in Elstree in front of a live studio audience.

(MH/CD)