The Scarecrows’ Wedding Garners 8.7 Million U.K. Viewers

Magic Light Pictures’ The Scarecrows’ Wedding garnered 8.7 million viewers on the BBC across the holiday season.

The special, which features the voices of Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Domhnall Gleeson (About Time) and Rob Brydon (Gavin and Stacey), achieved Magic Light’s highest ever audience share at 48.2 percent, attracting 1.4 million more viewers than last year’s Christmas film, Tiddler.

The Scarecrows’ Wedding was directed by Samantha Cutler and Jeroen Jaspaert and written by Steven Bloomer. It was animated by Triggerfish Animation. Sophie Okonedo (Slow Horses) narrated the half-hour special.

Magic Light’s entire catalog of Axel Scheffler and Julia Donaldson specials were repeated over the holiday period, with Zog, Zog and the Flying Doctors, The Smeds and the Smoos, The Highway Rat, The Snail and the Whale, Stick Man, The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child, Room on the Broom, Tabby McTat, Superworm and Tiddler all securing an audience share of 30 percent when shown again on BBC One. They all remain some of the BBC’s most popular titles on BBC iPlayer as well.

“Viewers have been truly enchanted by The Scarecrows’ Wedding, winning hearts across the U.K. this Christmas,” said Marc Ollington, co-managing director of Magic Light Pictures. “We’re immensely proud of the production’s quality—from the stunning animation to the exceptional voice talent bringing Julia Donaldson’s beloved characters to life. Our ongoing partnership with Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler continues to inspire us, and seeing such a large audience enjoy the special is incredibly rewarding. Magic Light Pictures takes pride in delighting audiences year after year, and this Christmas has been a wonderful reminder of the joy these stories bring.”