Perhaps it is the way Kerr says "remember" and the piles of books about Nazi Germany on her coffee table that remind me of her background, and explain, possibly, how she is the children's author most likely to confront the death of her main character. "I'm coming up to 80," says Kerr, in her soft, hesitant voice, "and you begin to think about those who are going to be left - the children, the grandchildren. So why banish Mog? "I don't think it was so much about killing off Mog, as rather doing something about dying. The author herself looks much younger than her age, and is impeccably dressed in short-sleeved wool jumper, tweed skirt, pearls and black patent shoes tipped with a bow. The sun shines in on welcoming fresh coffee and fine biscuits. Her living-room furniture is white and green 70s, as expected, though the television is widescreen and expensive. In Kerr's home in south London, there is light in all the stairwells. It would be an unusual thing to do to an adult - like allowing Jeeves to succumb to cancer - but it is remarkable for it to be done to the age group just beginning to read. Except that this time round, Mog goes to heaven. Nothing in this world has changed (Kerr says cats look the same when dying as they do all their adult lives). The 70s furniture is still in place, the Thomas family as fresh-minted as in the first Mog, which came out in 1970, two years after Kerr's other enduring classic, The Tiger Who Came to Tea. Lupus previously produced the Emmy award-winning adaptation of Kerr’s “The Tiger Who Came to Tea” for Channel 4.Inside, the pictures - as always, drawn by the author, each stripe in Mog's fur a multitude of carefully inked horizontal lines - have not aged. It was commissioned by Channel 4 in association with Universal Pictures Content Group. animation studio Lupus Films, will air later this year during Channel 4’s Christmas schedule. The hand-drawn film, which is being produced by U.K. Universal Pictures Content Group rep global rights. We are thrilled to once again bring Judith Kerr’s delightful illustrations to life in animation and to do so in the 100th anniversary of her birth feels very special”. Ruth Fielding, producer and co-founder of Lupus Films said: “This festive, family-friendly tale has huge cross generational appeal and is the perfect literary classic to adapt for the whole family to come together to watch. “Judith Kerr’s much-loved Mog will be a great addition to this collection and a really special festive treat for the audience,” said Gwawr Lloyd, drama commissioning editor at Channel 4. Comfy in the snow, she eventually falls asleep and has a “cat themed Christmas dream” before falling down the chimney the following morning, just in time for breakfast. When she sees the huge Christmas tree she freaks out and hightails it to the roof, from where, despite the family’s best efforts, she refuses to budge.
“Mog’s Christmas” follows the cheeky tabby as she finds herself feeling a bit ignored during the Thomas family’s preparations for Christmas. Robin Shaw (“The Tiger Who Came to Tea”) is directing based on a screenplay by Joanna Harrison (“The Snowman and The Snowdog”).
“Our own Mog was a huge part of my childhood,” said Kneale.
#MOG JUDITH KERR SERIES#
The “Mog” books were based on Kerr’s own family cat and the first in the series was published in 1970, remaining in print for over 50 years. Mog’s miaows and purrs will be provided by Kerr’s daughter Tacy Kneale.
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