Tiddler star, 8, 'excited' by role in Christmas film

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Reuben Kirby, of Thornton-Cleveleys, is the voice of the starring fish in the animation

An eight-year-old boy who is due to star in BBC1's much-anticipated Christmas family animation film Tiddler said it was "very exciting" to be involved.

Reuben Kirby, of Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire, is the voice of the starring fish in the film, which will be screened at 14:35 GMT on Christmas Day.

Tiddler is the latest screen adaption of a book by The Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson.

Reuben plays Tiddler, a young blue fish who is always late to school and has a big imagination, and his story will see him go on a big underwater adventure.

Reuben told BBC North West Tonight: "It was very, very exciting.

"Tiddler is kind of a fish version of me."

Tiddler is the latest book to be screened from The Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson

It is his first professional acting role and he said it was even more special as he is a big Julia Donaldson fan.

Her books are illustrated by Axel Scheffler and last year, the animation of their book Tabby McTat, a heart-warming story of a busker and his cat, had an audience of 8.6m.

Speaking to be BBC from his home, Reuben said: "I read all the books when I was younger, Tiddler being the favourite.

"I loved the film. It was the best Julia Donaldson one I have seen and I have seen all of them."

Ted Lasso actress Hannah Waddingham leads Tiddler's cast as the narrator for the half-hour animated special.

Tiddler tries to help a turtle which has been captured by a squid

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