I have been a fan of the Wallace & Gromit franchise for some time now. In fact, ever since I clapped eyes on A Grand Day Out on a miserable Sunday afternoon I have become hooked on them. Sadly even resorting to having a calendar and a funky alarm clock which still, surprisingly works.

So, understandably I was very excited when they announced that there was to be one made for christmas last year. As were many others as it attracted a peak average of 14.4 million and another 7 million when it was repeated on New Years Day! It seems we just can't get enough of the fabulous Nick Parks plasticine creations.

Wallace and Gromit have now gone into the bakery business. Something that many would be wary of when bakers are being murdered. Whether Wallace, voice of Peter Sallis (Last of the Summer Wine), has heard of this I don't know.

Unlucky in love, Wallace has his heart turned again by the once famous Bake O Lite girl, Piella, voice of Sally Lindsay. However there seems to be something suspicous about her, afterall how can a lady be that nice when she has a pet dog who appears to be scared of her. For once it is nice to see that Gromit as well has a slight interest in this unfortunated poodle, Fluffles.

More suspicously is when Piella arrives at Wallaces home without her dog at her side which is most unusual. Especially when she gives Wallace a present as a way of an apology but will not stay with him when he opens it, shows her shady past.

This is a great animation and like the other 3, is just under 30 minutes long. I did like The Curse of the Were Rabbit, however I felt that there was something about it which was more comercial. Set to appeal to other countries who may not understand British humour. Hence the reason why I am pleased that A Matter of Loaf and Death has returned to the usual set up.

OK, so there are a few moments when the jokes are a bit obvious but there are more times when you can't help but laugh at something which was completely unexpected. Being a short film it kept my attention and I spent a happy half an hour completely engorsed in it.

Well worth a view.