Nativity!

Debbie Isitt made 'Nativity!' much the way she'd made 'Confetti' (2006): a cast of comedy regulars, a story with a fixed beginning and end, and plenty of improvisation in between. Martin Freeman, Jason Watkins and Marc Wootton all came back for this Christmas musical comedy set in Coventry.

Every year, St Bernadette's, a Catholic state primary, comes second to Oakmoor, the posh private school up the road, in the race for the local critic's five stars. Paul Maddens (Freeman), a failed actor turned teacher who's hated Christmas since his girlfriend Jennifer (Ashley Jensen) left him for Hollywood five years ago, gets lumbered with this year's show, along with Mr Poppy (Wootton), a hopelessly childish classroom assistant.

When Oakmoor's Gordon Shakespeare (Watkins), his old rival from drama school, starts gloating, Paul blurts out that Jennifer is bringing Hollywood to Coventry to turn his play into a film. Mr Poppy overhears, the local news picks it up, and soon the whole city is waiting for the film people while Paul tries to stop the lie blowing up in his face.

The children were found through open auditions across the Midlands, and most had never acted before. Isitt wrote the songs with her editor, Nicky Ager. Pam Ferris plays the headmistress, Alan Carr the local theatre critic and Ricky Tomlinson the mayor, while Clarke Peters from 'The Wire' turns up as a studio executive. Filming took place in Coventry city centre in 2008, with camels grazing outside the cathedrals.

It had its world premiere at the Coventry Skydome on 23 November 2009 and opened in UK cinemas that Friday. Critics were split: plenty found it predictable and the finale overlong, but most agreed the kids steal the show. Ticket sales were healthy, and three sequels followed, 'Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger!', 'Nativity 3: Dude, Where's My Donkey?!' and 'Nativity Rocks!', plus a stage musical that opened at Birmingham Rep in 2017.

• Comedy
• Family
• Christmas