Netflix’s That Christmas dropped on December 4, 2024, and it’s got one of the most stacked British voice casts in recent animation memory — Brian Cox growling his way through Santa Claus duties alongside heavyweights like Bill Nighy, Fiona Shaw, and Jodie Whittaker. Based on Richard Curtis’s own children’s book, the film weaves multiple storylines through a Suffolk-inspired seaside town, and the voice ensemble is the engine that makes it all tick. Here’s a complete breakdown of who’s playing whom, from the main leads down to the supporting characters you might have missed.

4 related posts

Director: Simon Otto · Santa Claus Voice: Brian Cox · Release Platform: Netflix · Release Year: 2024 · Writer: Richard Curtis

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact number of Bumpus hounds featured in the film
  • Details on the film’s budget or production timeline
  • International dubbing details for non-English markets
3Timeline signal
  • March 20, 2024: Main cast announcement (Wikipedia)
  • October 19, 2024: BFI London Film Festival premiere (Wikipedia)
  • December 4, 2024: Netflix global release (Wikipedia)
4What’s next
  • Film joins Netflix’s growing Christmas animation library
  • Locksmith Animation continues its partnership with Netflix

The table below consolidates key production details from Wikipedia and the Fandom Wiki for quick reference.

Role Value
Director Simon Otto
Writer Richard Curtis and Peter Souter
Santa Voice Brian Cox
Key Location Inspiration Suffolk town
Platform Netflix
Musical Score Composer John Powell
Song Contribution Ed Sheeran (“Under the Tree”)
Animation Studio DNEG Animation
Production Company Locksmith Animation
Netflix Release Date December 4, 2024

Who voiced the reindeer in That Christmas?

Key reindeer voices

The reindeer ensemble features Guz Khan lending his voice to Dasher, one of Santa’s lead reindeer. Dasher is part of the film’s central Christmas sequence, and Khan’s comedic timing brings energy to the character. The full reindeer roster includes multiple characters that support the film’s Santa Claus storyline, which forms one of three interweaving narratives.

Reindeer character roles

While the Fandom Wiki credits confirm Guz Khan as Dasher, the film features an ensemble of reindeer characters that tie directly into Brian Cox’s Santa Claus storyline. The animated reindeer design draws from classic Christmas iconography, with modern character touches that suit the Locksmith Animation style established in prior productions.

The upshot

Guz Khan’s casting as Dasher signals the film’s approach to blending established British comedy talent with holiday tradition — the kind of choice that makes the reindeer scenes feel fresh rather than formulaic.

Who plays the twins in That Christmas?

Twin characters overview

The film’s child characters include several sibling pairings that drive the emotional core of Curtis’s storytelling. The Beccles family features prominently, with Sam Beccles voiced by Zazie Hayhurst as one of the central young characters navigating the town’s Christmas chaos. The Forrest children — Teddy and Scarlett — represent another sibling dynamic in the film, voiced by Freddie Spry and Ava Talbot respectively.

Voice actors for twins

Freddie Spry voices Teddy Forrest while Ava Talbot voices Scarlett Forrest, the two children in the Forrest household led by Mr. and Mrs. Forrest (voiced by Alex Macqueen and Katherine Parkinson). The McNutt family contributes Evie McNutt (voiced by Bronte Smith) and Bernadette McNutt (voiced by India Brown), creating another sibling pairing that threads through the interconnected stories.

The Forrest twins — Teddy and Scarlett — anchor one of the film’s family storylines, with their voices providing the emotional center for parents Mr. and Mrs. Forrest.

Who did Bill Nighy voice in That Christmas?

Bill Nighy’s role

Bill Nighy voices Lighthouse Bill, a character who operates the titular lighthouse in the seaside town that serves as the film’s setting. This role places Nighy at the heart of one of the film’s key locations, with his character likely anchoring one of the intertwined storylines that Richard Curtis is known for weaving. Nighy’s distinctive voice brings warmth and authority to the role, per the Fandom Wiki credits.

Other notable voices

Beyond Cox and Nighy, the adult cast includes Lolly Adefope as Mrs. McNutt, Sindhu Vee as Mrs. Mulji, Rosie Cavaliero as Mrs. Beccles, and Paul Kaye as Farmer Yirrell. Andy Nyman voices Mr. Beccles, while Rhys Darby handles Mr. McNutt. The film also features cameo appearances from Jordan North and Dermot O’Leary as Mr. Hack and Mr. Chop respectively, according to Wikipedia’s confirmed cast list.

Why this matters

Richard Curtis’s Love Actually legacy looms large over any new Christmas film from him, but That Christmas separates itself by grounding its ensemble in this specific Suffolk seaside setting — and the lighthouse becomes a literal beacon for the film’s emotional architecture.

Is Charlie from That Christmas a boy or girl?

Charlie’s gender presentation

Charlie Beccles is voiced by Sienna Sayer and represents a gender-neutral character in the film’s cast. The approach to Charlie’s character design reflects broader trends in children’s animation toward inclusivity, with the character’s presentation allowing for multiple interpretations rather than strict binary categorization.

Charlie and Lola references

The name Charlie echoes Lauren Child’s Charlie and Lola book series, which also features a gender-neutral protagonist — Charlie is the older sibling while Lola is younger, and the original books deliberately leave Charlie’s gender open to interpretation. That Christmas appears to honor this tradition with Sienna Sayer’s voice work as Charlie Beccles.

Charlie Beccles follows the gender-neutral tradition established by Lauren Child’s books, giving the character universal appeal for young viewers.

Full Cast of That Christmas: Main Voices and Characters

Santa and key adults

Brian Cox leads the cast as Santa Claus, bringing his signature intensity to the role — a choice that subverts typical jolly Santa expectations in favor of something more complex. Fiona Shaw voices Ms. Trapper, Jodie Whittaker voices Mrs. Williams, and Deborah Findlay voices Mrs. Horton, rounding out the adult female ensemble. Alex Macqueen and Katherine Parkinson handle the Forrest parents, while Jack Wisniewski voices Danny Williams as the sole Williams family representative in the main cast.

Mrs. Williams and others

Jodie Whittaker’s Mrs. Williams anchors one of the family’s storylines, with Danny Williams (Jack Wisniewski) as her child in the film. Kuhu Agarwal voices Nisha Mulji as part of the Mulji family storyline, with Sindhu Vee voicing the parent Mrs. Mulji — mother-daughter pairing that adds to the film’s interweaving family narratives.

Supporting cast

The supporting cast brings depth to every storyline, from Andy Nyman and Rosie Cavaliero as the Beccles parents to Paul Kaye’s Farmer Yirrell, who adds rural charm to the seaside setting. Jordan North and Dermot O’Leary’s cameo roles as Mr. Hack and Mr. Chop provide comedic cameos that reward attentive viewers. The Mulji family, the McNutt family, and the Williams family each have their own narratives that intersect with the central Christmas chaos.

Fiona Shaw’s Ms. Trapper and Jodie Whittaker’s Mrs. Williams each anchor distinct storylines that intersect throughout the film — Shaw bringing theatrical gravitas while Whittaker offers warmer, more domestic energy.

— Cast analysis from Wikipedia and Fandom Wiki

The cast also features John Powell behind the scenes as score composer, with Ed Sheeran’s original song “Under the Tree” adding pop-star wattage to the film’s musical elements. Simon Otto’s directorial debut showcases a voice cast that balances established British talent with emerging performers, a combination that gives the film its distinctive texture.

The catch

Richard Curtis’s voice-driven ensemble films live or die on their casting, and That Christmas stacks the deck with names like Cox, Nighy, and Shaw — but the real test is whether the child actors can hold their own against such heavy hitters. By the Fandom Wiki credits, young performers like Freddie Spry and India Brown get substantial screen time alongside them.

The combination of veteran performers like Brian Cox and emerging talent like Freddie Spry creates the film’s distinctive voice-driven texture.

Related reading: Cast of This Is England · Dancing with the Stars Season 34 Cast

Additional sources

screendaily.com, behindthevoiceactors.com, radiotimes.com, animationscoop.com

While Brian Cox voices Santa and Bill Nighy plays Lighthouse Bill, this detailed 2024 cast breakdownoffers insights into the full ensemble including reindeer and twins.

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Frequently asked questions

What town is That Christmas based on?

The film draws inspiration from a Suffolk seaside town, with the lighthouse setting and coastal community reflecting Richard Curtis’s documented affection for the Suffolk region. The film’s fictional town combines elements from various seaside locations while maintaining its own identity.

Is Wellington-on-Sea a real place?

Wellington-on-Sea is not a real place. The film creates a fictional seaside setting that serves the story rather than depicting an actual location. The Suffolk inspiration informs the aesthetic and community feel without replicating a specific real-world town.

Who is the cast of That Christmas narrator?

The narrator role details for That Christmas are not fully specified in the available cast credits. The film features multiple interweaving storylines that may include narration elements, though the primary storytelling relies on voice performances from the ensemble cast.

When did Charlie become gender neutral?

Charlie Beccles in That Christmas follows the tradition established in the Charlie and Lola books by Lauren Child, which deliberately presents Charlie as gender-neutral. The film honors this approach with its character casting rather than introducing a new gender presentation concept.

What is the age gap between Charlie and Lola?

In the original Charlie and Lola books by Lauren Child, Charlie is the older sibling with Lola being younger. The exact age gap is not specified in the books, which focus on their sibling relationship and everyday adventures rather than specific ages. That Christmas does not directly adapt the Charlie and Lola stories but references this naming convention.

How many Bumpus hounds were there?

The exact number of Bumpus hounds featured in That Christmas is not confirmed in the available cast credits or production details. Bumpus hounds traditionally appear in the Mr. William Beccles household in the original Curtis stories.

Where does Richard Curtis live?

Richard Curtis has had documented connections to Suffolk, England, which influenced the coastal setting in That Christmas. His broader body of work, including Love Actually, draws from his experiences and relationships rather than specific residential details.

Cox will voice Santa Claus in the adaptation of Richard Curtis’ trilogy of children’s books about multiple interweaved stories of love, loneliness, family and friends at Christmas time.

— Screen Daily entertainment reporting

Simon Otto directed That Christmas as his feature debut after working on the How To Train Your Dragon trilogy, bringing visual storytelling experience to a voice-driven project. The film premiered at the BFI London Film Festival on October 19, 2024, before its Netflix release on December 4, 2024, with John Powell’s score and Ed Sheeran’s original song providing the musical framework.