Izzard cast in U.K. Christmas TV movie

LONDON, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Actor and comedian Eddie Izzard will headline a Christmas movie for British television, the BBC said.

Izzard, who starred in the TV drama "The Riches, as well as the movies "Ocean's 13," "My Super Ex-Girlfriend" and "Valkyrie," Wednesday completed his 26th marathon in 31 days for the Sport Relief charity.

The BBC said Izzard will be seen this holiday season in writer-director John Hay's "The Lost Christmas." He will play a mysterious man who changes the lives of five people one Christmas Eve.

"The story came off the page for me, somehow uplifting and very poignant at the same time," said Izzard's co-star, Jason Flemyng. "It just reminded me of all those Christmas films I used to sit down in front of a fire and watch as a kid."