For many British families, Christmas Day now has a cosy new tradition as firmly established as the Queen's Speech. Since 2009, the BBC has gifted viewers a heartwarming animated adaptation of a Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler picture book, complete with star-studded voice casts. This year's offering, The Scarecrows' Wedding, marks the 13th entry in this beloved festive canon.
From Woodland to Wedding: A Festive Institution
The tradition began with the iconic The Gruffalo in 2009, securing a prime-time slot on BBC One on Christmas afternoon. Each year, a new tale brings Donaldson and Scheffler's magical worlds to life, narrated and voiced by an impressive roster of A-list talent, with Rob Brydon being the series' only constant voice. These specials have become a feel-good seasonal institution, offering a calming interlude amidst the festive chaos.
With The Scarecrows' Wedding set to air at 3.10pm on Christmas Day on BBC One and iPlayer, we look back at all 13 adaptations. Which stories soar, and which fail to take flight? Here is our definitive ranking from worst to best.
The Ranking: From Snooze to Superworm
Starting at the bottom, The Smeds and the Smoos (2022) lands in last place. This alien Romeo and Juliet tale, told in a peculiar nonsense language, lacked the charming animal characters and gentle morals that define Donaldson's best work.
Just above it, The Highway Rat (2017), despite David Tennant's vocal talents, felt derivative. Meanwhile, the sequel Zog and the Flying Doctors (2020) failed to capture the magic of the original, feeling like reheated leftovers.
More recent entries have fared better. Tabby McTat (2023), a London-set tale of a busking cat, charmed with its voice cast but slightly over-sweetened the city. Last year's Tiddler (2024) offered stunning underwater visuals but a predictable fish-out-of-water plot.
The rankings climb with the heroic Superworm (2021), narrated by Olivia Colman, and this year's The Scarecrows' Wedding (2025). Featuring Jessie Buckley and Domhnall Gleeson as the straw-stuffed lovers, it's a charming, Worzel Gummidge-adjacent romance, despite a geographically confused crab.
The Top Tier: Stone-Cold Christmas Classics
The upper echelons are where the true classics reside. The Gruffalo's Child (2011) cleverly reversed the original's plot with a snowy, atmospheric glow. The scaly school story Zog (2018) earned its place with subversive humour and a stellar cast including Lenny Henry and Kit Harington.
Breaking into the top three, The Snail and the Whale (2019) is an enchanting, environmentally conscious epic of friendship, beautifully narrated by the late Diana Rigg. Room on the Broom (2012) remains a spellbinding ode to inclusivity, with an Oscar-nominated pedigree and Wallace and Gromit vibes.
In second place, the genuinely festive Stick Man (2015) is a Homeric epic with a spine-tingling sleigh ride climax, voiced by Martin Freeman and Hugh Bonneville.
And the undisputed number one? The Gruffalo (2009). The original and the best, this toasty tale of a clever mouse in a deep dark wood started it all. With legendary voices including the late Robbie Coltrane, John Hurt, and Tom Wilkinson, it possesses a timeless magic and extra poignancy, forever defining the genre of 'Donaldsonvision'.
