They're adapting the William books with Ben from Outnumbered!

[sethstarkaddersmum]

look

he looks v good. Those are very Williamish expressions.

[GrendelsMum]

Oh, that looks wonderful! And look at Robert and Ethel - don't they look brilliant? I love the stories with Robert and Ethel. A couple of William books sneaked their way to college with me and hid among the Chaucer and Malory and so on, and I have them still.

Mind you, I love Jennings too - I think they're written with real comic timing and wit. The story with the pane of glass is wonderful, and the one where Jennings is trying to write a detective story makes me laugh just remembering it.

[southeastastra]

i don't think you can beat the version with bonny langford

[sethstarkaddersmum]

Bonnie Langford was classic casting for that character but I think Daniel Roche may be a very good William
GrendelsMum - interesting you say that about Jennings; I loved them both as a child but when I came back to them as an adult I thought William was brilliant and Jennings didn't stand up. Must have another look.

[sethstarkaddersmum]

no-one does 'truculent' like him!
have only just noticed the pic of Robert - ROFL!

[GrendelsMum]

Well, I think that Richmal Crompton has an advantage because Robert and Ethel are such well-observed characters, and the parents too, and so there's more to enjoy as an adult, while Jennings has a much more restricted social life, and mostly sees children.

But I think if you see Jennings as a comedy of manners type short story, it's great.

Do you remember the one where he calls the fire brigade by mistake and they come to the fire with 'verve and aplomb'?

[lilyliz]

I loved Jennings and thought they were laugh out loud funny,saw recently they had been reprinted but couldn't find them.William Iam not so keen on and can't stand that kid out of outnumbered,I always just want to slap him he is so aggravating.:o

[vmcd28]

Lilyliz, thank god, I thought I was the only person on the planet who can't bear Ben! I find him unfunny, extremely irritating, a terrible actor, and there's nothing at all endearing about him. :)

[BearCrimble]

Didn't they reprint Jennings without any of the "fossilised fishooks" stuff that made it what it was?

The one I remember is the poetry/handwriting competition and the mixed up entries.

[DukesOfTripHazard]

I am yomping through the William books with my 9 year old DD. They are dazzling good. The one where he appropriates a sweet shop is one of my favourites.