London’s Magic Light Pictures has started production on its next Beeb holiday special, which will be based on the 2014 book The Scarecrows’ Wedding (pictured) from popular author/illustrator duo Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

BBC One and iPlayer are planning to launch this romantic half-hour animated special in time for Christmas 2025. Its premise revolves around a scarecrow couple happily in the midst of wedding preparations—until a flower pick-up goes awry and a rival scarecrow’s nefarious plot puts their big day in jeopardy.  

This will be Magic Light’s 13th special adaptation of a Donaldson/Scheffler title, and the studio has built a well-deserved reputation for doing animated specials really well. In the past few months alone, it earned a BAFTA Children’s Craft Award for The Velveteen Rabbit (Apple TV+) and an International Emmy for Tabby McTat (BBC).

These annual festive specials have delivered solid viewing numbers for the Beeb. Last year’s Tiddler—another Magic Light adaptation of a Donaldson/Scheffler book—attracted an impressive audience of 7.3 million on Christmas Day.

Samantha Cutler and Jeroen Jaspaert are directing The Scarecrows’ Wedding, with Barney Goodland and Micheal Rose producing on behalf of Magic Light.