The Box of Delights, a TV series that aired in 1984, will be shown on the big screen on Friday, December 5.
The show, based on John Masefield’s 1935 children’s novel, follows schoolboy Kay Harker on a magical journey to protect a time-travelling box from an evil magician.
The series was known for its mix of live action and animation, becoming the most expensive children’s series the BBC had created at the time.
It went on to win several BAFTA and RTS awards.
First aired on BBC1 in the lead-up to Christmas, the series has garnered a cult following over the years, complete with its own fan website and Facebook group.
The theme music, an arrangement of The First Nowell from Hely-Hutchinson’s Carol Symphony, has become a seasonal favourite.
The series concludes with a carol service in the fictional Tatchester Cathedral, adding to the appropriateness of Salisbury Cathedral as the venue for this special screening.
Salisbury Cathedral has secured special permission to show the series as part of its Advent and Christmas events.
The Box of Delights at Salisbury Cathedral (Image: Salisbury Cathedral)
The screening will commence at 7.15 pm, with festive drinks available for purchase throughout the evening.
The cathedral hopes the event will draw fans of the original series, offering a nostalgic trip down memory lane, while also introducing the festive classic to a new generation of children.
The Box of Delights was initially broadcast on BBC1 on Sunday evenings in the lead-up to Christmas, with the final episode airing on Christmas Eve.
The series’s groundbreaking blend of live action and animation saw it become the most expensive children’s series the BBC had made up to that point, winning several BAFTA and RTS awards.
Tickets for The Box of Delights: Festive Screening can be purchased from the Salisbury Cathedral website.
