Grandpa's Great Escape flies in to Liverpool

David Walliams’ best-seller Grandpa’s Great Escape is flying off the page and on to the stage with a special stop in Liverpool.

Nigel Planer will play Grandpa in the show, which comes to the M&S Bank Arena on January 4.

The live version of the children’s favourite will recreate the landmarks of London on stage, along with a life-size Spitfire, and will be directed by Tony® Award nominee Sean Foley who also directed Peter Capaldi in The Ladykillers at the Liverpool Playhouse, as well as The Catherine Tate Show Live.

Many years ago, Grandpa was a World War II flying ace. But when he's sent to old folk’s home Twilight Towers – run by sinister Matron Swine – it’s up to Grandpa and his grandson, Jack, to plot a daring escape.

Little do they know, the wicked matron is on to them.

Chocks away! David Walliams and Nigel Planer. Photo by David J Hogan. Top: photo by Trevor Leighton

David Walliams said: “Grandpa's Great Escape Live is an incredible new development for the book. We’re not just turning it into a live show, but into a spectacular live arena show for all the family this Christmas.

“Being in arenas means we can have a life-size Spitfire, a tank, the London landscape and a dramatic escape from the Imperial War Museum. It's great because we can really go to town with all of those elements and this story demands that scale.

“I'm delighted to be involved with this arena tour, working with fantastic people like the director Sean Foley and Kevin Cecil, who’s written the script.”

Grandpa’s Great Escape Live is at the M&S Bank Arena on January 4. Tickets are £29.30-£51.50 HERE