BBC1’s big Christmas Day film will be Oscar-winning kids’ animation Brave.
Around 7million viewers are expected to settle down to watch the terrestrial premiere of the Disney-Pixar hit, which will be broadcast directly after the Queen’s Speech.
The movie features the voices of British favourites Billy Connolly, Julie Walters and Emma Thompson.
Trainspotting star Kelly Macdonald is the voice behind lead character Merida, a hot-headed tomboy who challenges medieval traditions of being married off into a neighbouring clan.
The reluctant princess cannot bear the idea of getting hitched to someone who cannot ride or shoot as well as she can.
But when Merida visits a witch who can teach her meddling mother a lesson, she is horrified by what happens to poor Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson).
Read more: Christmas TV highlights to look forward to next month
Merida has to discover the true meaning of courage as she fights to undo the terrible curse before it’s too late.
The film, which also won a Bafta and Golden Globe for Best Animation in 2012, is Pixar’s first fairytale and also its first story with a female lead character.
Julie Walters plays the witch and Robbie Coltrane is the father of a would-be suitor.
A BBC source said the heart-warming film would be “just perfect for Christmas”.
Rolling Stone magazine called it a “rousing, gorgeously animated good time”.
Other movies being premiered by the channel over Christmas include The Croods, Wreck it Ralph, Oz The Great and Powerful, Turbo, Tinkerbell and the Secret of the Wings and Iron Man 3.
