The new Warner Brothers ‘Wonka 2023’ movie has been released on 15 December in many countries. In a world of imagination, take a listen and you will hear the accordion from the start of this movie and prominent throughout. The featured accordionist is Ian Watson (picture right), Music Director of the London Accordion Orchestra.

Ian Watson wrote: “I loved working on this film so much, for over 2 years on and off, and the end product is sublime. The World Premiere last week at the Royal Festival Hall London was so much fun. My good friend (and boss) Neil Hannon has written the perfect set of songs for the film and they’re knitted together by the stunning score of another good friend, Joby Talbot. Both total geniuses and I’ll be forever grateful that they asked me to play on this wonderful film.”

Wonka is a 2023 musical fantasy film directed by Paul King, who co-wrote the screenplay with Simon Farnaby, based on a story by King. It tells the origin story of Willy Wonka, a character in the 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, featuring his early days as a chocolatier.

Not only can Ian Watson be heard on the big screen this month – you can also see him on stage in Hansel and Gretel at the Shakespeare Globe Theatre in London from 16 December to 7 January. If you can be in London on those dates, it promises to be a real fun show to enjoy.