King’s Lynn-born Tim FitzHigham, West Norfolk Council’s creative director, appears in Wonka film alongside Timothée Chalamet and Hugh Grant

A council official has not only witnessed a significant historic discovery this year, but he’s also appeared in a film alongside acting royalty.

Timothée Chalamet, Hugh Grant and Olivia Colman are just some of the stars of the new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory prequel Wonka, a musical fantasy film in which Tim FitzHigham, 48, also has a minor role.

Wonka, which Variety reports has already surpassed $150million at the global box office after being released on December 8, sees Lynn-born Tim take on the part of a ship’s captain towards the end of the two-hour movie.

Speaking to the Lynn News, Tim – who has previously starred in Paddington 2, Netflix’s After Life and Channel 4’s The Windsors – explained that he had worked with some of Wonka’s crew before, including director Paul King and writer Simon Farnaby.

“I played a baddy in Paddington 2 and there are a fair few people from Paddington 2 in Wonka,” he said.

“I’m really lucky that I was one of them. It’s really lovely to be a small part of a very brilliant thing.”

In the film, based on Roald Dahl’s character Willy Wonka, Tim appears in a scene with Chalamet (who plays the titular character) and Grant (as Lofty, an Oompa Loompa) – which was filmed at Pinewood Studios near Slough between October 2021 and March 2022.

“They are both lovely,” Tim said.

“Hugh played my grandson in Paddington 2 so it was good to be back with him on set. There was some slight confusion on set as [Chalamet] was Tim and I’m Tim.

“At one point, he decided he would be Timmy for the day so I could be Tim, which was very generous of him.”

It was during the filming that Tim said he “got the sense that it was going to be brilliant”.

“Everyone was having a lovely time. When you have done a few things, you get a sense for how it’s going,” he said.

“It’s such a beloved story – it’s so loved, so it’s really quite brave to do the origin story. They have absolutely nailed it. It’s really exciting.”

As for the other exciting project he is working on at the moment – the transformation of St George’s Guildhall – as West Norfolk Council’s creative director, Tim said he “really wants to deliver for Lynn”.

“I’m so passionate about it. I think this can genuinely transform all of West Norfolk,” he added.

“What we have got at the Guildhall is something so magical.”

Tim was there to witness a remarkable historic discovery more than two months ago when floorboards William Shakespeare himself may have trodden on were uncovered.

The Grade I listed building is the only working theatre in the world that can claim Shakespeare himself performed there.

The project team at the Guildhall has been working out a plan to incorporate this discovery into the major refurbishment currently being completed at the site.

“It’s lovely being part of the team delivering that,” Tim said.

The discovery has been seen by hundreds of millions of people around the world on TV and via online reports, Tim added – concluding that it could even be similar to thenumber of people whowill see Wonka in cinemas.

“People have engaged with the magic of that story. Like Wonka and Paddington 2, I think the Guildhall is magical,” he said.

“The story of theatre in that room is from 1440 onwards.

“It’s inspiring our schools, our young people – people of all ages.

“It just shows the incredible challenge we have got.”

Tim added: “I love doing TV, film and radio, but I really wanted to do something for the place I call home and where I was born and that’s Lynn.

“I really love the Guildhall, it’s very special.”