Richard Curtis

The documentary will reveal never-before-seen footage of rehearsals and what really occurred behind the scenes. 

Produced by Expectation, the special will see Dawn French and Richard Curtis partner talk about their favourite moments from the sitcom with writer Paul Mayhew-Archer, producer Jon Plowman and James Fleet, who played Hugo Horton, and guest stars such as Hugh Bonneville, Kylie and Joanna Lumley. 

Dawn French commented: “It was a total treat to revisit such a happy place and time for this documentary. Part of my heart is still, and forever will be in Dibley.”

The hour-long festive treat will see Olivia Colman (The Crown) make her panto debut as Fairy Godmother, alongside an all-star cast including her on-screen sister Helena Bonham Carter as Lady Devilia, Guz Khan (Man Like Mobeen) as Buttons, Tom Hollander (Us) a Baron Hardup and Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit) as Cinderella.

Television cannot be accused of ignoring the environment. Our destruction of the planet has long been a staple of serious TV documentaries. And in drama, zombies, pandemics and nuclear catastrophe offer stark visions of our future if humanity fails to mend its ways.

According to Richard Curtis, however, environmental programming doesn’t have to be “boring, didactic or terrifying”. The UK’s king of comedy reckoned it can also be “funny, interesting, educational and personal”.

It is hard to think of another great BBC sitcom blessed by such a strong pedigree as that of Blackadder. Running over four series, spanning 1983 to 1989 – plus the occasional special – the creators and stars of this comic masterpiece read like a roll call of late-20th-century British screen talent.

Richard Curtis was speaking at an event, hosted by the RTS, which looked at how environmental issues can be addressed in TV comedy and drama.

Curtis enjoyed huge TV success, penning Blackadder, Mr Bean and The Vicar of Dibley before moving into film and writing the hit romantic comedies Notting Hill and Bridget Jones’s Diary.

The competition, aimed at 18-29 year olds, is looking for powerful content with humour, aspirational and feel-good storylines to depict an optimistic and sustainable future, that diverts away from the typical dystopian drama depiction of what the future holds.

Flickers of the Future patron Richard Curtis CBE commented: "This could be the most important drama of our time, a much-needed route to drive the rapid and major changes we need to avert a climate crisis and achieve the United Nations Global Goals.