1. Despite suggestions that he would never again play Detective Jack Frost, the 67–year–old star has agreed to reprise the role for two more episodes.

2. "The Shaggy Dog" (March 10), "The Santa Clause 3" (November 3): Tim Allen‘s back in the Disney fold, resurrecting the studio‘s franchise as a district attorney mutated into a bushy canine and reprising his Kris Kringle role as Santa fights Jack Frost (Martin Short) for dominion over Christmas.

3. "I think she‘s the sort who wouldn‘t have appreciated a witticism of that degree." The star‘s highly successful 38–year television career includes the role of Granville in Open All Hours, grumpy Detective Inspector Jack Frost in A Touch of Frost, and Pop Larkin in The Darling Buds of May.

4. He said: "It was a great opportunity to get back into doing funny characters, because I started my career playing mainly funny ones – and I thought I was missing that a bit." The actor, who is best known as Del Boy in Only Fools And Horses and as Detective Jack Frost in A Touch Of Frost, added: "I‘d been playing all sorts of serious roles, that I‘d enjoyed – though you can‘t say that Frost is totally serious." He congratulated the film‘s makers for "breaking down the barriers" to produce Hogfather on a limited budget, adding: "I think you‘ve achieved what the Americans would have thrown money at." | View all Reader comments (7) 7 people have commented on this story so far.