Sue Johnston, who of course plays long suffering wife and mum Barbara in The Royle Family, will appear in ‘Lapland’ – a 90 minute show to be broadcast on BBC One over Christmas – alongside ‘This Is England’ actor Stephen Graham and ‘Waterloo Road’ star William Ash.

‘Lapland’, which will also star Elizabeth Berrington, Julie Graham, Zawe Ashton and Keith Barron, sees Sue play mum Eileen Lewis, who saves each year for a special Christmas her family will remember.

This year, the Lewis family decide to go to Lapland to meet Father Christmas, but they end up getting a lot more than they bargained for.

Of the role, Sue said, “Lapland won’t know what’s hit it when the Lewis family arrive, it’s a hopeful, bittersweet comedy and I’m delighted to be a part of it.”

Of the programme, which was shot both in the UK and on location in Finland, Mark Freeland, Head of In-House Comedy, said, “I am delighted that we are bringing a little bit of Lapland magic to BBC One this Christmas with Michael Wynne’s comedy special.

“You can take the family out of Birkenhead, but you can’t take Birkenhead out of the family.”

Producer Rosemary McGowan added, “Michael Wynne has skilfully brought to life one ordinary family’s chaotic experience of Christmas in a way that will have people all over the country chuckling in recognition.

“Funny, warm but also moving.”