With Christmas just around the corner, it’s time to start binge-watching festive films.
British Christmas musical comedy film Nativity! is set to air on television this weekend, perfect for getting viewers into the holiday spirit. The classic will be shown on Sunday (December 1) on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 3:15pm, following Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas.
Nativity! which was released in 2009, was written and directed by Debbie Isitt and produced by Nick Jones. The film boasts a star-studded cast including Martin Freeman, Marc Wootton, Jason Watkins, Ashley Jensen, Alan Carr and Ricky Tomlinson.
The plot follows teacher Paul Maddens who tells a lie about Hollywood coming to watch his school’s Christmas nativity, leading to a series of hilarious events.
Upon its release, the movie did well, opening at number five in the box office before rising to number four in its third week, eventually earning a total of £5,187,402. It also led to a series of sequels, with Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger releasing three years after the original in 2012.
This was followed by Nativity 3: Dude Where’s My Donkey? in 2014 and Nativity Rocks! in 2018.
In 2017, a stage musical adaptation premiered and has since toured the UK over several Christmas periods.
Debbie Isitt penned and helmed the festive musical Nativity!, drawing in an array of guest star celebrities like Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh, Danny Dyer, Jo Brand, and Rylan Clark.
On IMDb, Nativity! boasts a 6.4 rating garnered from over 13,000 votes, while on Rotten Tomatoes, it enjoys a 66% popcorn meter score based on 1,000 plus ratings.
The Christmas caper has captured hearts for years, with one fan heralding it as “Sweet, funny, bags of charm: Outnumbered meets Britain’s Got Talent, with added Christmas.”
Another fan declared the film to be “A warm, funny and irreverent Christmas movie that ought to become a holiday classic alongside films like ‘Elf’ and ‘A Christmas Story.'”
Meanwhile, a third enthusiast lauded: “It’s the pure, device-free performances of the talented cast of children that makes this a winner and that rare thing – a Christmas movie that actually captures a pocketful of its spirit.”
Nativity! airs on Sunday at 3:15pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.