Robbie the Reindeer rose to international stardom with his critical triumph, Hooves of Fire. His latest Christmas blockbuster is Close Encounters of the Herd Kind.

Robbie, you’ve been away for a couple of years. What have you been up to? I went travelling for a bit. I was hoping to find myself in India. But I actually found myself in a Travelodge off the A12. I’m no good at maps.

What is your new Close Encounters adventure about? It’s the ultimate face-off that everyone’s been waiting to see – aliens v reindeer. The producers told me they wanted a cross between War of the Worlds and Morph. I think we got pretty close.

Did you do all your own stunts? No, no. I had a stunt double called Steve the Reindeer. That guy will jump off anything. Brilliant bloke. May he rest in peace.

How do you feel about the Times TV critic's comments about you? I’ve referred the whole matter to my agents, the RSPCA. Those guys are rottweilers. Seriously, they’re actually rottweilers.

What was it like working with stars such as Keira Knightley and Russell Brand? I won’t deny there was a certain frisson between us on and off set. We’ll just have to see where that one goes. And Keira was all right too, I suppose.

What’s next for you? Have you got any exciting projects lined up? I shouldn’t really say but I’m in the next series of I’m a Celebrity . . . They are planning a Plasticine special: Shaun the Sheep and Pingu are already on board. You just know one of us is going to have a meltdown.

Robbie the Reindeer in Close Encounters of the Herd Kind, Christmas Day, BBC One, 2.30pm

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