In GRANDMA's footsteps

DAVID WALLIAMS and SHERIDAN SMITH tell us about a sequel to a beloved adventure

-  TESS LAMACRAFT

GANGSTA GRANNY STRIKES AGAIN!

NEW FRIDAY, 5.30PM, CBBC COMEDY DRAMA

Over the past decade, adaptations of David Walliams’ magical children’s stories have proved gems in the Christmas TV schedules.

This week, the award-winning Britain’s Got Talent judge notches up an eighth, with a reworking of Granny Strikes Again!, a sequel to the 2011 bestseller Gangsta Granny, which was adapted for BBC1 in 2013.

The first tale followed youngster Ben as he made the shocking discovery that his ‘boring’ paternal grandma (portrayed by Julia McKenzie) was an international jewel thief, known as The Black Cat. Soon, the pair were teaming up to steal the Crown Jewels – all under the noses of Ben’s Strictly-obsessed parents Mike (played by David) and Linda.

‘The new story is set a year after the adventures in the first one,’ says David, as he and co-star Sheridan Smith, who takes over the role of Linda from Miranda Hart, join TV Times for an exclusive interview.

‘Famous treasures start vanishing in the middle of the night and the crimes have all the hallmarks of Gangsta Granny but, because she has passed away, it’s her grandson Ben who is getting the blame.’

So Ben (now played by rising star Archie Yates) must turn detective to find out who is mimicking his infamous relative.

Here, good friends and frequent collaborators David, 51, and Sheridan, 41, give us their take on the adventure…