Benedict Cumberbatch joins 'The Tiger Who Came to Tea' voice cast

July 29 (UPI) -- Benedict Cumberbatch will lend his voice to the animated adaptation of children's book The Tiger Who Came to Tea for the U.K.'s Channel 4.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea, from late author Judith Kerr, follows a tiger as he arrives unannounced and eats everything inside of a family's home.

Cumberbatch will be voicing the father with David Oyelowo as the tiger, Tamsin Greig as the mother, Paul Whitehouse as the milkman, 7-year-old newcomer Clara Ross as daughter Sophie and David Walliams as the narrator.

Lupus Films is producing the project which will be a part of Channel 4's Christmas schedule. Robin Shaw (We're Going on a Bear Hunt) is directing.

"I couldn't be more thrilled to be playing a small part in brining Judith Kerr's timeless children's classic to the screen for another generation to enjoy," Cumberbatch said in a statement.

"Who wouldn't jump at the chance to play the iconic tiger from The Tiger Who Came to Tea? He's a big cat of few words because he's too busy eating! But I relished all of the growling, chomping, and slurping, which called on me to find my inner cat," Oyelowo said.