BBC re-imagines Enid Blyton for the 1st edition dust-jacket generation.
The cast of Blytonian, an award winning team of writer's re-imagining of Enid Blyton's best-loved characters, has been announced
A 25-part series, written by an award winning team of scriptwriters, will have two hour episodes laced with nail biting stories in a master class guide to Blytons' books for the unedited, original edition loving generation.
It will see Martin Clunes starring as Enid Blyton’s Uncle Quentin, Sean Connery as Bill Smugs, and Ben Fogle as Julian Kirrin.
They will join acting talents including Kate Winslet, as Aunt Fanny, in scenes which could see Susie from the Secret Seven Series bumping into Snubby from the Barney 'R' Mysteries.
The series, entitled Blytonian, was largely written by Justin Geste, who told the Telegraph he initially dismissed it as a “really crazy idea” which no-one would dare commission.
It will be a familiar set-up to anyone familiar with Golden Age 1940’s and 1950’s Enid Blyton, with real life sets based on Kirrin, Peterswood, Baronia, The Secret Island and The Faraway Tree.
Filmed entirely in the UK, it saw programme-makers build a complete replica of Fatty’s famous shed where all the Find-Outers meet, alongside Kirrin Cottage, The Secret Seven’s Shed, and The Isle of Gloom.
The programme, among the most ambitious projects ever commissioned by the BBC, started filming on the first of April.
Justin Geste, who last year presented a BBC documentary about Smuggling and Spook Trains, promised his remarkable take on the works of Blyton would attract even those who knew nothing about her, who could learn to love the original unaltered characters outside the pages of the original novels.
Saying he hoped to appeal primarily to the older generation of Enid's fans, the screenwriter said: “What I bring to the project is a magical treat for those who are still under the age of twelve in mind, body and spirit.”
“The way Blyton has been treated on television before is mixed.
"There is a whole generation of people who may know characters like Jack and Prince Paul but wouldn’t necessarily have a clue who the politically incorrect Famous Five are…”
"It will bring a whole raft of new people to Blyton and her characters. You don't need to have read the books or know who the characters are. You can discover them with Blytonion. That makes it incredibly exciting."
He added he was “well-trained in episodic writing” thanks to his years on an old battered typewriter on his loggia , he pointed out that Blyton herself was the master of the cliff-hanger, having released many of her works in weekly magazines.
The original commission of 25 two hour episodes, he said, was the “tip of the iceberg” of material on offer, leaving the possibility of a much longer-running series if it proves popular.
“It's quite a simple concept,” he said. “Taking a selection of Blytons' most iconic characters and free them from the narrative of the book.
"Take them and put them all in one place, and see what happens. Let them interact and see what it's like when Julian meets Fatty and Andy,or Mrs Hilton takes tea with Mrs Stick...”
*with apologies to Rob for using his beautiful picture*
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane - Society Member
"What a lot of trouble one avoids if one refuses to have anything to do with the common herd. To have no job, to devote ones life to literature, is the most wonderful thing in the world. - Cicero
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
Seriously, Pete, I reckon you should pitch it to the BBC (or, if they won't take it, ITV or Channel 4). You never know...
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It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
I can't wait but trying to imagine how it will all work and be presented. With one series of character meeting those from another, I am wondering if I missed a trick with my fan-fics about the Adventure series characters and the Barney series - Snubby marrying Lucy-Ann and the two families being joined in marriage and adventure. The calibre of actors involved suggest it should be good - although Sean Connery as Bill? About 30 years too old I would say....
That's funny, Pete, I was wondering whilst reading the anti-Dickensian comments in the other thread how people would react if it was our revered author - now I know! A great idea, and I would love to see that, too.
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)