The cast has been revealed for Beauty And The Beast - A Pantomime For Comic Relief, the new special which will air on BBC Two on Sunday 19th December.

The new show will follow-on from last year's Zoom-based Cinderella production, which raised nearly £900,000 for the charity.

The producers say: "'Oh no it isn't', 'Oh, yes, it is.' The world's funniest and most star-studded Comic Relief pantomime is back, as writers Ben Crocker, Dawson Bros and Richard Curtis turn Beauty And The Beast into a festive panto delight, all to raise money for some very good causes.

"Returning to tell this years' tale will be narrator Guz Khan as Bonzo. He will gleefully retell the beloved fairy-tale of an unlikely romance between a cursed beast and his warm-hearted prisoner as part of this new BBC Christmas tradition."

The Pursuit Of Love actor Lily James will take on the lead role of Beauty, whilst Green Wing and Motherland star Oliver Chris will portray The Beast.

Kiell Smith-Bynoe (Ghosts) will play Beauty's brother Jacques; Sian Gibson (Car Share) plays their mother, Ma; and Susan Wokoma (Chewing Gum) stars as Amelie.

Further cast names and roles include Celia Imrie as Malabelle, Pam Ferris as Marie and Friday Night Dinner stars Simon Bird and Tom Rosenthal as Remy and Mr Bell respectively.

The producers tease: "But what will the cast do with the classic, Beauty And The Beast? In this unique interpretation there promises to be some clever camera tricks, surprising moments of comedy and of course big guest stars popping up including Miranda Hart, Lenny Henry, David Tennant, David Walliams and Michael Sheen. Illustrations will once again be provided by Quentin Blake."

Sian Gibson says: "I thought my Panto career was behind me, but oh no its not! I'm so thrilled to be taking part in this years' Comic Relief Pantomime for BBC Two, Beauty And The Beast. Just thrilled I've not been asked to play the beast actually. It's going to be lots of Christmassy fun and a great chance to raise crucial funds for such a wonderful charity."

Tom Rosenthal says: "The chance to act alongside Simon Bird is an opportunity I cannot turn down, seemingly. Beauty And The Beast the Comic Relief Pantomime will be the best thing to happen to Zoom since the Handforth Parish Council."

Comic Relief co-founder Richard Curtis, who acts as executive producer, says: "I don't know that we've ever done anything for Comic Relief which was more full of a sense of fame and fun - last year the show made nearly a million pounds, and I'm really hoping that Beauty and the Beast will also raise a beautiful amount of cash for all our brilliant projects at a pretty beastly time."

Commissioner Katie Taylor says: "Christmas is the time of coming together and what better way than to have a giggle, laughing along with some of the finest faces of stage and screen doing their best Panto impressions whilst raising money for those in need."

The hour-long Beauty And The Beast - A Pantomime For Comic Relief will air on Sunday 19th December at 9pm on BBC Two.