Update - Comedian Sophie Willan has joined the cast too.
Stephen Merchant (The Office, Extras, Hello Ladies) and Asim Chaudhry (People Just Do Nothing) are to star as two mismatched neighbours driving across the country to pick up the one toy that will make a little girl’s Christmas dreams come true. But will they get there before the shops shut for the festive season? Can they make it back in time for Christmas? And will they manage to avoid driving each other crazy along the way?
Click & Collect is a one-off comedy film written by Joe Tucker and Lloyd Woolf (Witless, Big Bad World, Parents) and directed by Ben Palmer (The Inbetweeners Movie). It is a co-production between BBC Studios and Mondo Deluxe and will air on BBC One this Christmas.
It's Christmas Eve and Andrew Bennett (Merchant) has somehow failed to buy the one present his six-year-old daughter really wants - Sparklehoof the Unicorn Princess. Unfortunately, it also happens to be the must-have toy of the season, and he can’t track one down in London for love nor money. Step forward his irritating, over-friendly neighbour Dev D’Cruz (Chaudhry), who reveals he’s managed to track down the last one in the whole of the UK. The only problem? It’s 300 miles away, up in Carlisle. And it’s click and collect on Dev’s credit card.
Andrew has little choice but to set off with his annoying neighbour on a long-haul drive as he desperately tries to save his daughter's Christmas and redeem himself as a dad. For Andrew, it's a nerve-fraying nightmare; for Dev, it's the best road-trip of his life.
Throw in a whole load of unexpected obstacles along the way, and if they want to make it back in time with the toy in hand, it’s going to take a proper Christmas miracle.
Stephen Merchant says: “Every year, my family watch the big Christmas TV specials and my dad falls asleep half way through. This year, I’m very excited to be starring in a big Christmas TV special that my dad can fall asleep half way through."
Asim Chaudhry added: “I've been a huge fan of Stephen's work for many years so it's a dream to be working with him! I'm also over the moon about the fact that my ten year old sister can finally watch something I'm in that's family friendly and wholesome lol.'
Shane Allen, Controller, BBC Comedy Commissioning: "Stephen and Asim are absolutely knockout together in a script bursting with comic incident, hilarity and heart. It's a family comedy treat for your Christmas stocking."
Chris Sussman, BBC Studios' Head of Comedy: “We're thrilled to have Stephen back working with the BBC again, and teaming him up with the brilliant Asim is the best Christmas present we could have asked for. Thanks Santa!”
Joe Tucker and Lloyd Woolf, Executive Producers for Mondo Deluxe: "In our first outing as Mondo Deluxe Productions we're delighted to be partnering with BBC Studios - and to have Stephen and Asim on board is an absolute dream! Working for a good chunk of the year on what we hope will be a real festive treat has been a joy (not to mention a genuine insight into what it must be like to be an elf)."
