‘It's bonkers but wonderful!'

Kids’ TV favourite Andy Day tells TV Times about the joys of playing an elf in CBeebies’ annual pantomime

- Rebecca Fletcher

A magical story? Tick. CBeebies stars singing in enchanted worlds in fab-yule-ous costumes? Tick. A yodelling Yeti, a guitarplaying octopus and a dawdling elf? Triple tick!

Welcome to the wonderful world of this year’s CBeebies Christmas show, available to watch from Saturday 12 December on BBC iPlayer and showing on CBeebies at 9.30 am and 5 pm on the same day.

Featuring the channel’s favourite stars, including Andy Day, Justin Fletcher and Gemma Hunt, Christmas in Storyland follows two elves on an adventure to deliver Christmas goodies – while also paying homage to some of the unsung heroes of 2020, with carers, teachers and grandparents all playing a part in the elves’ quest.

‘It’s different, and reflective of the strange year 2020 has been, but I think kids, parents and grandparents are going to love it,’ says Andy, CBeebies longest-serving presenter of 13 years.

Here, in an exclusive interview, Andy, 39, tells TV Times why we’re in for a tree-mendous treat…

In five words, how would you describe Christmas in Storyland?

Magical, musical, reflective Christmas story!

We’re in! Tell us more…