Cinderella: A Comic Relief Pantomime For Christmas is coming to BBC Two.

The one-off hour long special is due to be broadcast on Christmas Eve at 8:15pm.

The BBC confirms: "This Christmas the curtain will be raised on a very special, virtual version of Cinderella as a host of famous faces from across the land will be gathering together for a fabulously festive treat as Cinderella: A Comic Relief Pantomime For Christmas comes to BBC Two.

The show will be "a retelling of the timeless panto classic", with "a star-studded cast assembling online and giving everyone a very special version of the fairy-tale this Christmas".

Olivia Colman will make her panto debut as the Fairy Godmother in the special, with a cast of comic actors joining her on screen.

Anya Taylor-Joy, who took the lead role in Emma., the recent film version of Jane Austen's romantic comedy, will play Cinderella. Rege-Jean Page (Chicken George in Roots) will join her on screen as Prince Charming.

Guz Khan will play Buttons, Tom Hollander is Baron Hardup, Helena Bonham Carter appears as Lady Devilia, Jimmy Akingbola has been cast as Dandini and This Country siblings Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper will play The Evil Step Sisters.

The BBC adds: "In addition to all this, legendary artist Quentin Blake has created a host of original hand drawn illustrations, helping bring the panto to life for everyone watching at home.

"With surprises and cameos aplenty, including an incredibly famous person wearing an incredibly unconvincing horse costume, this brand new virtual adaptation promises to be the starriest show on TV this Christmas.

"And while the public watch, they will also have the opportunity to donate to Comic Relief projects, if they feel able to, that are working to help people living with hunger, struggling with their mental health or feeling lonely or unsafe this Christmas."

The show has been scripted by The Dawson Brothers - the writing team who work on many of David Walliams's TV projects - based on an original script by Ben Crocker.

Comic Relief founder Richard Curtis says: "We're hugely grateful to BBC Two and the amazing cast for allowing us to do our first ever pantomime. It'll be very funny and merry - and also a great seasonal opportunity to raise crucial funds for the projects that will help the most vulnerable people, at home and abroad - especially now when covid has made things harder than ever for many."

Patrick Holland from BBC Two says: "This is a unique surprise at the end of a year when we all need cheering up. Thank you so much to Richard Curtis and the team at Comic Relief for assembling such a stellar cast to deliver us a pantomime to remember."

Cinderella: A Comic Relief Pantomime For Christmas will be broadcast on BBC Two on Thursday 24th December at 8:15pm. It will also be available on BBC iPlayer after broadcast.