Eric Idle is to star in a BBC Two Christmas Special in which he is joined by younger comedians including Noel Fielding and Robin Ince and also revisits his classic post-Monty Python series, Rutland Weekend Television.
The Entire Universe, to be broadcast on BBC2 on Boxing Day at 9pm, is a collaboration from the creators of Spamalot, starring Professor Brian Cox, which combines fascinating facts about the birth of the universe with larger than life comedy characters penned by the legendary Eric Idle.
Professor Brian Cox will initially appear to present a scientific Christmas lecture on fictional TV channel Rutland Weekend Television. However he soon realises he is in fact in a major musical put on by the Muriel Tritt School of Music and Dance, choreographed by Arlene Phillips.
Throughout the programme, Professor Cox continues to patiently mentor Eric in an attempt to make up for his entire lack of education in science. The result is an explosion of comedy, music and dance depicting the birth of The Entire Universe - in just one hour.
Alongside Brian and Eric in an out of this world plot, Warwick Davis plays the part of The Big Bang, Noel Fielding takes on Einstein and Hannah Waddingham tackles time, while Robin Ince attempts to keep order.
Eric Idle said: “I am very pleased that Rutland Weekend Television is back on BBC TV with a Christmas Special only 41 years after its last one. The world’s smallest TV station takes on the world’s largest subject: the entire universe.”
“It’s fitting that 41 years after Rutland Weekend Television produced a Christmas special with George Harrison, it is back with the Beatle of Science, Brian Cox. No doubt what Rutland did for TV in the 70s it will now do for science - and set it back 40 years.”
Shane Allen, Controller, Comedy Commissioning said: “Rutland Weekend Television gave us Beatles spoof, “The Rutles” and now with The Entire Universe, Eric Idle is giving musical comedy fans the best Christmas present ever.”
Brian Cox said: “I’ve made many television documentaries over the years, and a constant complaint has been that the music is too loud and obscures the science. This undermines my credibility as a serious scientist. I expect The Entire Universe to be the final nail in the coffin.”
Warwick Davis said: “I’m thrilled to be hitching a ride on a musical journey through time and space with Prof Brian Cox! (Not words I’d ever thought I’d write in the same sentence). And the icing on this galactic cake is that the show is written by and stars my old chum, Eric Idle.”
The Entire Universe will be illustrated with songs by Eric Idle and John Du Prez and choreographed by Arlene Phillips.
The Entire Universe, BBC2, Boxing Day, 9pm
Picture copyright Eric Idle.
