James Nesbitt’s boozy nights out with The Heist Before Christmas cast 'Sunday lunches became Monday mornings'

ok.co.uk:

James Nesbitt is often cast as murder-solving detectives in TV dramas, but this December he’s playing a criminal with a festive twist in Sky’s film The Heist Before Christmas.

The Bloodlands star is donning a Santa suit and robbing a bank in this Northern Ireland comedy - and admits that the role is a welcome break from his steady diet of dramas. “For the last number of years I’ve been doing quite dark pieces and I loved the notion of doing something funny again,” he says. “It feels like Home Alone in certain bits and it’s lovely to be playing something quite big and broad and funny, away from all the dramas I’ve been doing.” The Heist Before Christmas follows Mikey (Bamber Todd), a 12-year-old disenfranchised with Christmas, as he bumps into two Father Christmases in the woods - one who’s just robbed a bank (James) and another who says he’s fallen out of his sleigh (played by Timothy Spall).

With Mikey’s family facing hard times, the boy sets out to steal the robber’s cash but learns about the spirit of Christmas along the way. “It really opens a window into the cost of living crisis,” James says. “It reminds people what Christmas is supposed to be about - reflection, charity and family.

For some people, it’s a very difficult time of year and I think it will resonate with a lot of people.” The film gave James the chance to reunite with fellow Santa Timothy, who he worked on 2001 film Lucky Break with. “He’s got a sensationally wicked sense of humour and he was so brilliant with the kids on this job - he never really gets angry or grumpy,” James laughs. “At one stage, we shared a love of great Indian and a love of wine - we would often get together and a Sunday lunch would turn into a Monday morning.” James was reminded.