The Baddies: First-look image revealed of BBC Christmas special

In the fairytale comedy, a troll, a witch and a ghost proclaim themselves the baddest of them all, delighting in tormenting everyone they meet.But when they are challenged to steal a girl’s blue spotty hanky, they discover they may have met their match.The special is adapted from The Baddies book written by Dame Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler.The special is adapted from The Baddies book written by Dame Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler (BBC/Magic Light Pictures)Smith, who will voice the narrator, said: “Being bad has never been so much fun!“The Baddies is deliciously spooky, ridiculously funny, and packed with heart.“It’s a riot of a fairytale that celebrates courage, kindness, and outsmarting the big bullies – families are going to love the hilarity and chaos this Christmas.”Steadman, voicing the witch, said: “What I loved about the story is how it flips traditional fairytales on their head.“You have these three boastful villains plotting wicked tricks, only to be completely outsmarted by a brave little girl and a mouse.“It’s such a satisfying, funny tale about kindness quietly beating big bullies.”Sheridan Smith, pictured, is appearing in the special along with Rob Brydon and Alison Steadman (Jordan Pettitt/PA)PA WireIt comes after a number of Dame Julia’s books have already been adapted by Magic Light Pictures for BBC Christmas specials including The Gruffalo, Zog and The Scarecrows’ Wedding, with the previous adaptations available on iPlayer.Last year’s adaptation, The Scarecrows’ Wedding, was watched by 8.7 million viewers across the festive period, becoming Christmas week’s most-watched programme in the UK.The Baddies is directed by Andy Martin and Sarah-Jane Knox, and produced by Barney Goodland and Martin Pope of Magic Light Pictures.