News team assembles on red carpet for Anchorman 2 premiere

Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, Christina Applegate and David Koechner attending the UK premiere Credit: PA Wire

It was a case of "news team assemble!" on the red carpet in London as the stars of cult comedy Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy attended the UK premiere of the long-awaited sequel, nine years after the first film.

Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd and David Koechner were joined by their female co-stars, Christina Applegate and Meagan Good.

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, sees the news team leading the nation's first 24-hour news channel.

Will Ferrell joked that it was not easy working with his co-stars: "It was difficult at best. A lot of these guys, they come on really nice but they're kind of jerky.

"They wouldn't talk to me. I tried to make friends and they just said it wouldn't work," he quipped, adding Rudd was "the jerkiest" of the cast.

Christina Applegate, Will Ferrell and Meagan Good attending the UK premiere of Anchorman 2 Credit: PA Wire

Watch Ron Burgundy singing his support for under-fire Toronto mayor Rob Ford**

Rudd, who reprises his role as field reporter Brian Fantana, revealed that most of the cast did not believe a sequel would ever happen.

"It was really good and surreal and exciting and overwhelming at times," he said.

Paul Rudd will play field reporter Brian Fantana in the sequel. Credit: PA Wire

"I couldn't believe it was happening. There were so many maybes and false starts over the nine years so, by the time it came around, we all resigned ourselves to not ever doing it. But the stars aligned and we were able to do it."

Steve Carell also stars in the film. Credit: PA Wire

Steve Carell - who portrays weatherman Brick Tamland - said: "It was very exciting and fun as you can imagine. They are the nicest guys you ever want to be with."

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues opens in cinemas on December 18.