Jim Carrey wouldn't want to travel through time, and has given his official 'bah humbug' to the immorality of greed, thanks to his time as Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol.

He said: "There are some important physicists who now are telling us that all time is happening only once. So I think now is a good time."

The 47-year-old actor – who was sporting a very full and bushy beard – was joined on the red carpet with his movie co-stars Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins and a host of celebrity guests as the British city was turned into festive spectacle with Christmas trees and fake snow.

He told BANG Showbiz: "This is overwhelming - even for my ego. This is amazing. I'm so happy to be here and to be a part of this. I want to thank the people of Britain for the legacy of Charles Dickens and the chance to tell this story. This story couldn't be more important now. It's about the immorality of greed.

"The movie expresses things that Dickens wrote about in a way that has no one ever been seen before. It's a fantastic story. It's present for all times."

Jim portrays the greedy lead character, Ebenezer Scrooge, in the 3D film which also stars Gary Oldman, Cary Elwes and Robin Wright Penn.

The evening broke an Official Guinness World Record for the biggest ever Christmas carol sing-along, as over 7,000 singers – including celebrated tenor Andrea Bocelli - tested their vocal chords. (c) BANG

Here is a video of the London Launch of A Christmas Carrol with Jim Carrey: