Richard Curtis is known for directing one of the most famous Christmas films of all time in Love Actually, and now he's coming back with a new festive project.
Christmas Actually may have a familiar name, but it's not going to be a sequel. Instead, we're getting a live stage show combining music, comedy, poetry and performances of real-life Christmas stories, all in aid of the Comic Relief charity that Curtis co-founded.
"I remember I didn't always love the Christmas shows I took my children to, but I always took them to one," Curtis told BBC News.
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"So we thought it would be fun to make a show for Christmas that really is fun for all the family. Then the idea of doing it also to raise money for Comic Relief made the idea irresistible."
"We hope it'll be a real chocolate box - or perhaps advent calendar - of delights," he continued, adding that it will be "noisy and emotional and full of surprises and jokes, with some proper celebrity sparkle".
He further explained that the shows would be about 90 minutes each, and that the celebrities will appear on screens as well as in person, but wouldn't reveal who will be involved at this point.
Related: Hugh Grant thought Love Actually might be the "most psychotic thing" he'd been in
Christmas Actually will run at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall between December 7 and December 11, for a total of eight performances. Tickets go on sale at 10am on Wednesday, July 19, with a members' presale happening a day earlier.
You will be able to grab your tickets from the Southbank Centre's official website here.
Love Actually is currently not available on any streaming subscription service, but we'll be sure to let you know where you can watch it come Christmas time.
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Joe Anderton is a freelance news writer at Digital Spy, having worked there since 2016. In his time, he's covered a host of live events and interviewed celebrities big and small. A big fan of TV and movies both mainstream and obscure, Joe also enjoys video games and in particular PlayStation. Joe currently does not use Twitter, but he only ever used it to tell people to watch the film Help! I'm a Fish.
