Santa's gone missing, so Death puts on a red suit. Chaos ensues.
It's the night before Hogswatch, usually a time of joy on Discworld, but there are suspicious going-on and the criminal underworld is abuzz. The beloved Hogfather - the jolly bearer of glee and pork-related gifts for children everywhere - has vanished. Suddenly, Discworld's entire mythical system is under threat. The fate of this magical time rests in the hands of a very motley group: A band of wizards headed up by a mystical university president named Mustrum Ridcully (Joss Ackland), a loyal manservant called Albert (David Jason), a level-headed governess called Susan Sto Heilt (Michelle Dockery), and her grandfather, who happens to be - Death (Marnix van den Broeke).
Acting
David Jason's weary Albert is peak deadpan delivery.
Practical Effects
Death's costume and physicality—no CGI, just pure presence.
Production
Unseen University's chaos captured in gloriously cluttered detail.
Director
Vadim Jean
David Jason
Albert
Marc Warren
Teatime
Michelle Dockery
Susan
David Warner
Lord Downey
Tony Robinson
Vernon Crumley
Nigel Planer
Mr. Sideney
Peter Guinness
Medium Dave
Stephen Marcus
Banjo
Craig Conway
Chickenwire
Rhodri Meilir
Bilious
Sinéad Matthews
Violet
Ian Richardson
Death
Neil Pearson
Quoth the Raven (voice)
Nicholas Tennant
Corporal Nobbs
Richard Katz
Constable Visit
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Michelle Dockery filmed this between stage work and her pre-Downton career; she reportedly loved the absurdity after dramatic roles.
Pratchett wrote this as a direct rebuttal to 'The Hogfather is just Discworld Santa'—it's a thesis on why we need lies that become true.
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