Paddington 2: An exclusive look at Hugh Grant's scene-stealing turn

He plays the film's villain Phoenix Buchanan, an actor past his prime with a gift for disguise

Paddington 2 arrives on the same exultant applause as its predecessor.

The thoroughly British family film has seen rapturous reviews across the board, The Independent proclaiming it "so full of charm and good humour that it should delight audiences everywhere."

Praise has particularly been lavished upon star Hugh Grant for his scene-stealing turn as the film's villain Phoenix Buchanan, an actor past his prime, now reduced to doing dog food commercials to make a living.

However, Buchanan's convinced he's discovered his path back to riches and glory, and he has one trick up his sleeve he hopes will get him there: his uncanny gift for disguises. In a nun's costume or a suit of armour, he moves invisibly across London.

Paddington 2 sees Ben Whishaw return to voice the friendliest bear in town; with Paddington now settled with the Brown family in Windsor Gardens, he becomes a favourite of the local community, doing odd jobs so he can save up enough money to buy a pop-up book for his aunt Lucy's 100th birthday.

However, when the book is stolen, it's up to him and the Browns to apprehend the thief. Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Brendan Gleeson, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi, Imelda Staunton, and Michael Gambon also star.

Paddington 2 hits UK cinemas 10 November.

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