Love Actually announces live concert tour for Christmas

From Digital Spy

Besides your first electricity bill of the new year being less than merry, December is the most wonderful time of the year.

Why? Well, it's the only time you'll take "your jumper is hideous" as an actual compliment, you actually embrace the replenishment of your Lynx Africa collection and you can watch Love Actually accompanied by a whole tin of Quality Street to yourself without any judgement.

Anyway, speaking of Love Actually, the iconic festive film will be screened live across the UK as part of a huge concert tour, featuring a full orchestra performing the enchanting score.

Kicking off the holiday season and getting many into the festive spirit, the tour will begin in Manchester on December 1. Then, it heads on to Bristol and Glasgow, followed by Birmingham and Edinburgh, before finishing up at London's famous Theatre Royal.

In case you've been living under a rock, directed by Richard Curtis, Love Actually was originally released in cinemas in 2003 and tells ten separate yet interweaving stories of love around Christmas time.

The film features an all-star ensemble cast, including Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Laura Linney, Bill Nighy, Martine McCutcheon, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley, Rowan Atkinson, Martin Freeman, and many more.

And a number of cast members reunited for Red Nose Day Actually in 2017 to raise money for Comic Relief.

A full, live orchestra will perform BAFTA winning composer Craig Armstrong's evocative score at these shows, with the film being projected onto a huge screen. Pre-sales open September 20 and general sale starts September 21.

Check out a full list of UK tour dates below...

• December 1 – Manchester, Bridgewater Hall

• December 2 – Bristol, Colston Hall

• December 3 – Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall

• December 4 – Birmingham, Symphony Hall

• December 5 – Edinburgh, Usher Hall

• December 10 – London, Theatre Royal Drury Lane (matinee and evening performances)

Does this mean we're allowed to start playing Christmas songs now?

Want up-to-the-minute entertainment and tech news? Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @digitalspy Twitter account and you're all set.

You Might Also Like

• The number one reason why couples sleep in separate rooms

• The best food and drink to eat before and during a flight

• 8 foods you should absolutely never eat when you're stressed