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CBeebies Christmas Show 2022: Dick Whittington and His Cat

The stars of CBeebies stage a show full of songs and pantomime fun. Will Dick Whittington and his Cat stop a trio of rats ruining the Lord Mayor of
London鈥檚 Christmas Parade?

Filmed at the Congress Theatre, Eastbourne the CBeebies stars gather for the latest CBeebies panto. The curtain goes up as a pigeon flutters by
and Dick Whittington enters looking for his cat, Lucky. Dick and Lucky meet Little Pigeon and discover he鈥檚 hungry so they search through Dick鈥檚
bindle to give him something to eat. Soon the pair need to be on their way to London for the Lord Mayor鈥檚 Christmas parade. Little Pigeon leads
the way and as the bells get louder Dick and Lucky arrive in the busy city. The people of London greet Dick and Lucky with a song about Christmas in London but the fun is interrupted by a trio of naughty rats. Meeting Alice Fitzwarren, Dick learns that the people of London are friendly but is warned to watch out for the rats. The Lord Mayor arrives to remind everyone that it鈥檚 nearly time for the Christmas Parade and that it will begin with the 鈥楻ing-a-ring-a-ding-dong鈥 鈥 a magical moment when he dings on the bell of Big Ben with the Golden Hammer. Arriving with a flourish, Mrs Fitzwarren, London鈥檚 Rat Spotter, declares she can smell a rat and sure enough the cheeky trio return. The rats introduce themselves as the Grand Order of Mischief and are met by boos from the audience. Ready for mischief the rats grab Dick鈥檚 bindle and the Golden Hammer but are scuppered by the arrival of Lucky. Jumping in fear of the cat, Turnip releases the hammer which is caught by Dick. The Mayor decides that Dick Whittington and his cat are the perfect pair to look after the Golden Hammer until the Christmas parade. Offering Dick and Lucky somewhere to stay for the night, Mrs Fitzwarren tells them the Golden Hammer is magical. The cheeky rats overhear and follow the friends to Mrs Fitzwarren鈥檚 Emporium of Rat Spotting Curiosities. During the 鈥淗ow to Spot a Rat鈥 song Mrs Fitzwarren gives lots of lessons about how to deal with cheeky rats. Custard Pies at the ready, Dick and Lucky keep watch over the hammer but soon the rats appear to try and steal it. With help from the audience, Dick and Lucky manage to keep the hammer safe from Turnip and Sprout but Stilton is too quick for them and rushes off with it. Meeting the Street Cleaner, Dick declares it鈥檚 no use he鈥檚 lost the Golden Hammer; but there鈥檚 magic in the air and a statue, postbox, traffic light and traffic cone do their best to stop Dick and Lucky leaving London. Little Pigeon tries to help too and surprises Dick by speaking and telling him to 鈥楾urn Again.鈥 Dick is still intent on leaving, so with a magic sparkle Little Pigeon transforms into a giant pigeon called Bow. Bow sings 鈥淭urn Again, Whittington鈥 and everyone helps Dick find his sparkle and keep going. Dick, Lucky, Alice and Bow follow a trail of cheese which they hope will lead them to the rats and the Golden Hammer. Back in their lair the rats discuss what to do with the Golden Hammer. Stilton and Turnip decide that they can use its magic to transform the whole of London into rats and turn the Christmas parade ratty. Sprout isn鈥檛 convinced that this is the best plan but the other two change his mind with their 鈥淩ats are Best鈥 song. The rats are interrupted by Dick, Alice and Bow trying to get the hammer back. Turnip declares they鈥檙e not afraid of a pigeon but jumps in fright when Lucky the Cat turns up. All the goodies chase after the hammer but Sprout has an idea and leads the friends out of the lair with a splash. Triumphantly Sprout returns with the hammer whilst the humans are left bobbing up and down in the River Thames. Captain Kippers is busy running his river taxi and is on hand to help all the friends out of the river. The engine of Captain Kippers little boat gives
up just as River Patrol arrive warning them they鈥檙e parked on double yellow fishing lines. Soon all the inhabitants of the river swim to the rescue
and once they鈥檝e found their inner sparkle the creatures take Dick and his friends on a magical boat ride down the river all the way to Big Ben. Back on dry land, the Lord Mayor discovers that the Golden Hammer has been stolen by the Grand Order of Mischief just as the rats arrive and
clang on Big Ben. This casts a ratty spell and soon all the townsfolk are sniffing and scratching like rats and a rather dull Rat Parade begins. The
Grand Order of Mischief realise that a rat parade isn鈥檛 as much fun as they thought it would be just as Lucky returns to surprise the rats one more
time. Jumping away the rats send the Golden Hammer up into the air to be caught by Alice and the ratty magic beings to wear off. Dick uses his
inner sparkle to explain to the rats why they are not enjoying the Rat Parade, saying that Christmas is a time for everyone to come together to
have fun and be themselves. The Mayor declares that Dick is right and that 鈥淓veryone is welcome at the Christmas Parade.鈥 The rats say sorry for
their mischief and everyone forgives them and Dick is given the highest honour to use the Golden Hammer and start the Christmas Parade.

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