Two Englishmen, an Irishman and a Scottish boy are about to light up Christmas, writes Stevie Gallacher.
Rather than the beginning of a joke, this is the cast of the BBC’s moving children’s tale, The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse, starring young Scots actor Jude Coward Nicoll.
The 15-year-old stars alongside screen icons Gabriel Byrne, Idris Elba and Tom Hollander in the tale.
“It’s a bit surreal to think I’ll be part of this Christmas for many people,” he said, at home in Edinburgh alongside dad Rob. “I can’t quite believe that.”
The film may last under 40 minutes but it packs a hefty emotional punch. Based on the much-loved Charlie Mackesy book, The Boy, The Mole, The Fox And The Horse charts Jude’s lost child’s journey to find a home, with the three animal characters played by the A-list actors.
“When I got the role I was really excited and I can remember running up and down the stairs because I was so happy,” said the teenager. “It was just excitement for what was to come, especially when I found out who the other cast members were.”
While he loved teaming up with The Usual Suspects star Byrne and Luther actor Idris Elba, it was Hollander whom the newcomer had been most looking forward to working alongside. “I like Tom’s performance in Pirates Of The Caribbean,” he said. “He’s just brilliant.”
When Mackesy heard Jude’s voice he immediately knew he’d found the role of the sensitive Boy. The author had a hands-on role in developing the story for television and the actor explained how Mackesy and the director, Peter Baynton, were specific about how they thought his role should be played, down to each specific line.
“Peter and Charlie knew what they wanted,” added Jude. “They were very specific on the different ways to try each line, and what would work with each of the other characters so it was about just trying to get it perfect. The book is about friendship and how real friends are not afraid to ask each other for help. But for me, the most important theme is kindness and about the need to be kind to others and ourselves.”
The young actor will be spending Christmas with his dad, mum Kim and family and they have moved the celebrations forward a day.
“Pretty much every year I watch Home Alone 1 and 2. I also really like the Grinch,” Jude explained.
“We’re going to do what we usually do and bring all the family together for Christmas dinner. But this year we’re going to change it up by definitely being in front of the TV on Christmas Eve watching The Boy, The Mole, The Fox And The Horse!”
The meaning behind Mackesy’s poignant story is something Jude believes has been timely over the past couple of years.
“This is a very important message when so many people in the world have worries in their lives,” he said. “It especially helped with people struggling to get through the challenges of Covid.”
Casting Hollander and Elba was a coup for Mackesy and producer Cara Speller.
Making up the quartet, Irish actor Byrne brought what Mackesy called “statesmanlike” qualities to the horse.
“When we had our first meeting with Gabriel about the project,” recalled Speller, “Charlie said, ‘I’m not sure if you have seen the book?’ and Gabriel just said, ‘I need to tell you something. I am the horse!’” Despite fielding “a lot of offers” for the screen rights, Mackesy and producer Matthew Freud were determined to do it right. “We wanted to do it ourselves really,” explains Mackesy. “Keep the message as simple and as close to the book as possible.
“It’s what everybody wanted. We all agreed it should be an extension of the drawings from the book, really. It just felt right.”
BBC 1, Christmas Eve, 4.55pm
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