Milligan makes fairy-tale comeback aged 82

Spike Milligan, one of Britain's best loved - and most perplexing - humourists, is to return to television screens in October in a children's film based on one of his books.

Spike Milligan, one of Britain's best loved - and most perplexing - humourists, is to return to television screens in October in a children's film based on one of his books.

Ragdoll Productions, the maker of Teletubbies, is developing his 1973 book Badjelly the Witch into a 45-minute film. It will feature interaction between animated characters and the comedian, who is 82 on Sunday.

Described as a "truly classic fairy story", Badjelly the Witch was written and illustrated by the former Goon Show member for his four children. It centres on two children who have to defeat the "baddest witch in the world". They are aided by a numberof Milliganesque characters, such as Mud-wiggle the worm and Binkle-bonk the goblin.

Carole Thomson, of Ragdoll, said a new style of animation had been developed to fit Milligan's wild characters. She said the programme "relishes the unusual comedy in the story, celebrating its silliness".