Ad man lands TV deal for debut novel

London ad man Geoffrey Sundquist has sold his debut novel to ITV, which will screen the tale as its children’s Christmas special.

“Father Christmas and the Missing Reindeer”, starring David Jason, is being made into a 45-minute animated film by Cosgrove Hall, the makers of Danger Mouse. It is already being tipped as another family favourite on the scale of Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman.

It tells how Father Christmas rescues his reindeer, which have been kidnapped by a wicked circus troupe, with the help of a boy called Simon.

Jason, the star of Only Fools & Horses and A Touch of Frost, who also did the voiceover for Danger Mouse, was persuaded to take the lead role in the seasonal special despite vowing to take time off for a year.