David Walliams to build flying car as he fronts Christmas documentary about Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

DAVID WALLIAMS is fronting a one-off Christmas documentary all about classic kids’ story Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Channel 4’s Chitty Flies Again will see the comic and children’s author trying to build a flying car, just like the one in the book, film and musical.

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A TV insider said: “This show is a real labour of love for David, who has been a fan of the story since he was a child.

“Getting the chance to try to build a flying car just like Chitty is nothing short of a dream come true for him. It will be a Christmas miracle if he can get it off the ground.”

David will also look at the history of the story, reveal behind-the-scenes footage from the film and meet cast members.

The book by James Bond writer Ian Fleming was published in 1964 as Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang: The Magical Car. It is the tale of two children who go on extraordinary adventures in the winged motor.

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Four years later the film musical starred Dick Van Dyke as the children’s father, inventor Caractacus Potts.

Roald Dahl co-wrote the screenplay and the visual effects came from producer Cubby Broccoli, who usually worked on the 007 movies.

In 2002, the story was transformed into a West End show, which went on to Broadway before becoming a huge success around the world.

I just hope David takes off in that flying car.

Frock and awe from Michelle

Michelle Keegan looks mean in green as she swaps her khakis for the full glam look.

The former Coronation Street actress is more familiar in her camouflaged uniform as the lead of BBC1’s Our Girl.

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She will return in her role as Lance Corporal Georgie Lane for the fourth series of the military drama, which is due to be screened next year.

But Michelle went for this attention-grabbing emerald dress, above, as she launched her new clothes range for very.co.uk.

I hope husband Mark Wright isn’t green with envy.

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Meghan protest at war

Previously unseen footage of the Duchess of Sussex at an anti-war protest as a child will be revealed in a new TV documentary about her.

The show, Meghan For President? which is due to be screened on the True Royalty channel later this year, explores her politics and how it is said to feed into her life-long dream of entering the White House.

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Viewers will be surprised to see a ten-year-old Meghan taking part in a demonstration and holding up a sign saying: “Peace and harmony for the world”.

The future duchess was protesting against the first Gulf War, which took place between 1990 and 1991, and she was recorded by a local television station.

Very noble. But I won’t hold my breath for her becoming US President.

Declan tunes in

Declan Donnelly took to social media to gush about Chris Ramsey’s streetdance on Strictly Come Dancing.

The comic delivered his sensational performance this weekend with dance partner Karen Clifton, to the sounds of Let’s Get Ready To Rhumble.

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The tune is the 1994 anthem of PJ & Duncan, the pop duo made up of Dec and his TV partner Ant McPartlin.

Dec Tweeted from the pair’s joint Twitter account: “Well I never thought I’d hear #LetsGetReadyToRhumble on #Strictly! Oh @IAmChrisRamsey, you nailed it man! What a belter! D.”

Praise indeed.

Dracula returns

THE man behind the reinvention of Dracula, Steven Moffat, says he wants the new BBC1 drama to give viewers bad dreams – and make them laugh.

He was previously the showrunner on Doctor Who and, along with Mark Gattis, rebooted Sherlock Holmes for the 21st Century.

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Steven and Mark have paired up again to write the new version of Bram Stoker’s horror classic, which will air early next year.

Speaking to the Radio Times, Steven said: “It’s not the kind of horror that harrows you and makes you feel that the world is a miserable, wretched place.

“I hope people have nightmares and jump and all that, but it is actually funny.”

It will be some feat if they can pull that off...

The New Pope

A new trailer for much-anticipated Sky drama, The New Pope, has been released.

It features John Malkovich as an interim pope admitting his “pompousness and conceit” in a confession box, while Jude Law, playing Pope Pius XIII awaking from a coma with a wry grin.

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