British Comedy Guide
Gangsta Granny. Granny (Julia McKenzie)
Gangsta Granny

Gangsta Granny

  • TV comedy drama
  • BBC One
  • 2013
  • 1 episode

Adaptation of David Walliams's children's book about a schoolboy who doesn't realise his grandma was once an international jewel thief. Stars Julia McKenzie, Reece Buttery, Miranda Hart, David Walliams, Rob Brydon and more.

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Gangsta Granny. Image shows from L to R: Mike (David Walliams), Linda (Miranda Hart), Granny (Julia McKenzie), Ben (Reece Buttery), Flavio (Robbie Williams), Mr Parker (Rob Brydon), The Queen (Joanna Lumley)

Key details

Genre
Comedy Drama
Broadcast
2013
Channel
BBC One
Episodes
1
Stars
Julia McKenzie, Reece Buttery, Miranda Hart, David Walliams, Rob Brydon, Robbie Williams, Joanna Lumley, Jocelyn Jee Esien and more
Writers
David Walliams, Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley
Director
Matt Lipsey
Producers
Jo Sargent, Mark Freeland and Sue Longstaff
Companies

Julia McKenzie, Joanna Lumley, Rob Brydon and Miranda Hart bring David Walliams's best-selling children's novel to life in a special 60-minute adaptation for BBC One.

From the BAFTA-nominated team behind 2012's Mr Stink and co-written by Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley (Gnomeo & Juliet, Robbie The Reindeer, Black Books) with David Walliams, the comedy drama tells the story of schoolboy Ben (Reece Buttery), who is bored beyond belief after he is made to stay at the house of his grandma, played by Julia McKenzie (Agatha Christie's Marple, Fresh Fields); all she ever wants to do is stay in, play Scrabble, and eat cabbage soup.

Until one day, when Ben's grandma tells him a story that she was once an international jewel thief, and together they go on a wild adventure to complete the one heist she never quite managed in her criminal heyday - which brings them face-to-face with Her Majesty The Queen, played by Joanna Lumley (Absolutely Fabulous).

David Walliams (Little Britain, Big School) and Miranda Hart (Miranda) appear as Ben's Strictly Come Dancing-obsessed parents, Mike and Linda.

Rob Brydon (Gavin & Stacey, The Trip) plays Mr Parker - a nosy neighbour who could scupper Ben and his grandma's plot; and Jocelyn Jee Esien (3 Non-Blondes, Little Miss Jocelyn) appears as Kelly, the pushy mother of Florence (India Ria Amarteifio) with whom Ben has to dance in a local ballroom competition.

Additional details

Part of

David Walliams Comedies

Production
Studio
Picture
Colour

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Thursday 26th December 2013 at 6:05pm on BBC One
Episode length
70 minutes
Most recent repeats
  • Sunday 31st December 2023 at 7:00am on U&W
  • Saturday 30th December 2023 at 8:30am on U&W
  • Wednesday 27th December 2023 at 5:25pm on CBBC

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