THE rolling acres of Blenheim Palace have played host to royalty and rock concerts.

But this Christmas, the 18th century stately home and gardens will take centre stage in the latest cinema blockbuster.

The Woodstock estate, listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, features as the location for Gulliver’s Travels and played host to some of the country’s favourite comedians – including Jack Black, James Corden and Billy Connolly.

Black, 41, who shot to fame in 2003’s School Of Rock, is delighted to have been involved in the fresh reworking of Jonathan Swift’s satire, which was first published in 1726.

He said: “Me and Jonathan Swift will go down in history together now. I loved the fantasy adventure elements of the story; that’s my favourite genre and there was lots of rich potential with the comedy.”

In the film, he plays the title role of Lemuel Gulliver, a lowly mail clerk working at a New York newspaper who, after bluffing his way into an assignment writing about the Bermuda Triangle, is transported to the undiscovered land of Lilliput.

After befriending the country's miniature Royal family, he becomes a hero by saving their population from invading armies – but inevitably has to face up to his own inadequacies when the real world comes calling in the shape of love interest/travel editor Darcy Silverman (Amanda Peet).

While the film is definitely all about Mr Black and his adventures, it’s not only the Lilliputians who get discovered.

The tall traveller is surrounded by a new wave of British comedy talent, which includes Chris O’Dowd (evil General Edward) and Catherine Tate (Queen Isabelle).

As Mr O’Dowd is well known for playing lovable slackers in The IT Crowd and The Boat That Rocked, Mr Black said it was hard to imagine him as a villain: “This time he had to tap into some evil. But it’s always really funny evil. While he’s being horribly male, chauvinistic and dastardly, you’re laughing the whole time.”

“That guy’s a genius,” said Emily Blunt, who plays Princess Mary. “He’s so funny, I found it impossible to get through a scene with him.”

Her co-star Black agreed: “He's going to get an Oscar some day and he better give me a shout out because I feel that I was there, for the discovery of the man. He’s a tremendous actor.”

And the rest of the cast agree Gulliver’s Travels was an equally good chance to let their hair down.

Connolly loved playing the king: “So little is asked of you. You get the sparkliest uniform, you know, and you just swan around.”

Spending much of his screen time with Gavin And Stacey’s James Corden, who plays Jinks the court jester, Connolly revealed the young actor had him in stitches.