Paul, charged with directing his school's Nativity play, falsely boasts that his ex-girlfriend plans to turn the production into a film.
Acting
Marc Wootton's Mr. Poppy is unhinged comedic genius
Direction
Improvised dialogue with actual school kids = authentic chaos
Director
Debbie Isitt
Martin Freeman
Paul Maddens
Ashley Jensen
Jennifer Lore
Marc Wootton
Mr. Poppy
Pam Ferris
Mrs. Bevan
Jason Watkins
Gordon Shakespeare
Ricky Tomlinson
Mayor
Alan Carr
The Critic
John Sessions
Mr. Lore
Phyllis Logan
Mrs. Lore
Geoffrey Hutchings
Father Tom
Clarke Peters
Studio Boss
Rosie Cavaliero
Miss Rye
Ben Crompton
Parent
Llewella Gideon
Parent
Selina Cadell
Oakmoor Headmistress
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The child actors were never given full scripts — their reactions to Martin Freeman are genuinely spontaneous.
Shot in Coventry using real local schools; the 'Hollywood' ending caused actual bidding wars between UK studios for sequels.
GB
