The group behind the acclaimed West End show The Play That Goes Wrong is back for more festive frolics, as the company of 'amateur actors' put on a Christmas play where everything that could go wrong — lines forgotten, sets caught on fire, costumes stolen — happens in quick succession.

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This time around the Cornley Dramatic Society are telling the Nativity story, with an opulent picture-book-themed backdrop that, of course, promptly falls apart and endangers the plucky players. And unfortunately for Mary and Joseph, the actors playing their trusty donkey have just had a huge falling out.

Read on for everything you need to know about The Goes Wrong Show: The Nativity.

When is The Goes Wrong Show: The Nativity on TV?

The half-hour Christmas special will air over on Tuesday, 22nd December at 7pm on BBC One.

The Goes Wrong Show: The Nativity cast

The Goes Wrong Show: The Nativity
The Goes Wrong Show: The Nativity (BBC Pictures) BBC

The Goes Wrong Show cast is made up of the original Mischief Theatre members (and a few new faces), and includes Nancy Zamit, Charlie Russell, Greg Tannahill, Henry Shields, Henry Lewis, Dave Hearn, Bryony Corrigan, Chris Leask, and Jonathan Sayer, each playing an amateur actor.

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Shields, Lewis and Sayer are the series co-writers.

The Goes Wrong Show: The Nativity plot

The Goes Wrong Show: The Nativity
The Goes Wrong Show: The Nativity (BBC Pictures) BBC

Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society returns to BBC One this Christmas for another festive special - and this time they're telling the greatest story ever told (or at least attempting to).

The group of 'amateur actors' do their darnedest to give the audience a serious performance full of gravitas, but, judging from BBC stills of the episode, it seems that no matter what they do, disaster is bound to befall them - including what looks like Angel Gabriel setting a piano on fire, and the Three Wise Men soldiering on despite their distinct lack of trousers (for that particular prank, blame the donkey).

The troupe's previous Christmas high-jinks have included a special version of Peter Pan in December 2016, and A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong, guest-starring Sir Derek Jacobi and the late Dame Diana Rigg, which was released the following Christmas.

The group's six-part series aired weekly from December 2019, also kicking off with a festive special.

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Looking for something else to watch? Check out our TV Guide.

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