David Tennant stars in BBC Christmas show, The Highway Rat

Christmas is on the horizon and the BBC is getting ready. Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's 2011 children's book The Highway Rat is being adapted into a swashbuckling half hour animated show this Christmas, starring the voices of David Tennant as the Highway Rat, Rob Brydon as the narrator and Nina Susanna as the Duck and Tom Hollander as the Squirrel.

The Highway Rat follows the story of a very hungry rat who tears along the highway searching for sugary treats to steal, until his sweet tooth gets him into trouble. 'Give me your pastries and puddings! Give me your chocolate and cake! For I am the Rat of the Highway, and whatever I want I take.'

This will be the fifth adaptation by Magic Light Pictures of a Donaldson/Scheffler title. Last Christmas, the BBC enjoyed an adaptation of Stick Man.

Elizabeth Kilgarriff, Senior Commissioning Editor, BBC Drama, says: 'I am delighted that we will be bringing another of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's much loved stories to life on the BBC. Magic Light Pictures have, yet again, woven their wonderful magic to animate the story of The Highway Rat with warmth and wit - and some very recognisable voices.'

Yet another reason for families to look forward to Christmas.