Quentin Blake’s Clown: Everything you need to know about Channel 4’s new Christmas animation

Including when it’s on, who’s in it and what it’s about

Down the years, Channel 4 has been responsible for some of the very best adaptations of children’s Christmas picture books.

From the 1982 adaptation of Raymond Brigg’s heartwarming classic The Snowman, through to 1991’s Father Christmas, as well as the more recent sequel The Snowman and the Snowdog (2012), the broadcaster has produced some first-rate festive fare.

This year is no different. While The Snowman will also be repeated on the channel over the Christmas period, there’s also a new animation set to arrive: an adaptation of Clown by Quentin Blake.

Quentin Blake’s Clown tells the story of a little toy clown, who was thrown away along with a group of fellow toys after his owner outgrew them.

The short is accompanied by a behind-the-scenes video featuring interviews with Blake himself, the short’s narrator, and the animators who brought Blake’s images to life.

A still from Quentin Blake’s Clown, Channel 4’s new hand-drawn animated special (Channel 4)

Here’s everything you need to know about Quentin Blake’s Clown…

When is Quentin Blake’s Clown on TV?

The special is set to air on Channel 4 at 7.40pm on Christmas Day.

It will also be repeated on E4 at 7.55am the morning after.

What is Quentin Blake’s Clown about?

The animation focuses on Clown, a small children’s toy who has been cast aside by his owner.

Embarking on a journey through the streets of a city in search of a new owner, Clown encounters a variety of colourful people and animals. 

Channel 4’s head of drama, Caroline Hollick, described the story as an “enduring tale of a box of once much-loved, now discarded toys and Clown’s impassioned journey to find them all a new home”.

Who is in the cast of Quentin Blake’s Clown?

While Clown himself is silent in the film, there is in fact one notable cast member, in the form of the story’s narrator.

Helena Bonham Carter, the actor best known for her roles in Fight Club and the Harry Potter film franchise, provides the voice narration for the film. She has recently featured as Princess Margaret in season four of Netflix’s royal drama The Crown.

Helena Bonham Carter pictured earlier this year at the 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in January (Getty Images)

“I was immediately drawn to this project by the gathering of so many artists from all the different corners of the world,” she said, in an interview with Radio Times. “I love the idea of bridging that gap, particularly in a time when Covid has made everyone so separate.”

Who is Quentin Blake?

Blake is one of the world’s most beloved children’s illustrators, known for his illustrations for novels written by Roald Dahl.

The 88-year-old artist has provided illustrations for more than 300 books, and is known for his loose, endearing style, which he describes himself as “free-wheeling”.  

Blake poses with first editions of his books in 2017 (AFP via Getty Images)

Speaking about the new adaptation of Clown, Blake said: “It’s wonderful now to see Clown off the page and running about on his own.”