The animated adaptation of Charlie Mackesy’s bestselling book captivated four million viewers on Christmas Eve.

The BBC One adaptation of Charlie Mackesy’s heartwarming illustrated book The Boy, The Mole, The Fox And The Horse was the most-watched programme on Christmas Eve, attracting an average of four million viewers.

The short film, which reimagined Mackesy’s iconic illustrations through hand-drawn animation, touched on themes of kindness, friendship, hope, and courage. The author expressed his gratitude, saying: “I’m deeply moved and thankful that so many watched it. I truly hope they enjoyed it. Thank you all – I could never have imagined this.”

The film featured an all-star cast, including Idris Elba as the voice of the fox, Tom Hollander as the mole, Gabriel Byrne as the horse, and newcomer Jude Coward Nicoll as the boy. The production was led by Hollywood director J.J. Abrams and Hannah Minghella of Bad Robot Productions, with an original score by Isobel Waller-Bridge.

Originally published in 2019, The Boy, The Mole, The Fox And The Horse explores the journey of its four characters as they form an unlikely bond while searching for a home. The book was named Waterstones’ Book of the Year and was shortlisted for the British Book Awards’ Non-fiction Lifestyle Book of the Year.

Mackesy, a 59-year-old artist, has previously collaborated with Nelson Mandela on a lithograph project and is involved with a honey enterprise in Zambia. His latest exhibition, featuring 60 original works of art inspired by the book, is currently on display at Sotheby’s.

North Korean leader signals readiness to deploy nuclear weapons in response to military drills, criticising US and South Korea.

Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, has warned that his country is prepared to use nuclear weapons in the event of military conflict with the United States and South Korea. His remarks were made during a speech to war veterans, marking the 69th anniversary of the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. The speech appears to be aimed at strengthening national unity within North Korea, a nation currently grappling with severe economic hardships exacerbated by the pandemic.

North Korea is expected to escalate its threats against the US and South Korea as the two allies prepare to expand their joint military exercises, which the North sees as rehearsals for an invasion. Kim Jong Un emphasised that the country’s nuclear forces are fully prepared to respond to any threat and are ready to mobilise swiftly and decisively in defence of the nation.

In his address, Kim accused the US of demonising North Korea to justify its aggressive stance, calling the US-South Korea military drills a prime example of Washington’s “double standards” and “gangster-like” behaviour. He also lambasted South Korea’s new president, Yoon Suk Yeol, branding him a “confrontation maniac” and accusing his government of pursuing extreme military policies. Since taking office, President Yoon has sought to strengthen South Korea’s military ties with the US and enhance its defence capabilities, including developing the capacity for pre-emptive strikes against North Korea’s nuclear threats.

Kim Jong Un further warned that any military action against North Korea would be a “dangerous suicidal attempt” and vowed that the Yoon government would face “immediate punishment” and “annihilation” if such actions were taken. The North Korean leader’s rhetoric comes amid growing concerns over the advancement of his country’s nuclear capabilities, with experts suggesting that Kim’s threats are partly aimed at gaining international concessions and consolidating support within the country.

In April, Kim stated that North Korea might use nuclear weapons pre-emptively if provoked, and has since overseen the test-launch of missiles capable of striking both the US mainland and South Korea. This escalation forms part of Kim’s broader strategy to assert North Korea’s strength and deter perceived threats from the US and its allies.

The North Korean regime also continues to grapple with internal challenges, including an economy devastated by the pandemic, border shutdowns, and international sanctions. In addition, the country officially acknowledged its first Covid-19 outbreak in May, although details on the scale of the crisis remain unclear, as North Korea’s healthcare system is ill-equipped to handle widespread illness.