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Just William

18 replies

TheLastMelon · 29/12/2010 11:37

This was oon BBC1 yesterday lunchtime and is on until Friday. It's so funny and it stars the boy who played Ben in Outnumbered. He seems made for the role!

I remember reading the books when i was younger and I think its just as good. Oh and the little girl who plays Violet is brilliant too.

'I'll thcweam and thcweam until I'm thick!'
:o
Anyone else enjoy it too? Seems the only good thing on tv at the moment thats not a repeat.

OP posts:
PestoEatsSnowWarnings · 29/12/2010 11:51

We watched it yesterday and even DH was chuckling (and he's very hard to please). Looking forward to the next episode now.

LetThereBeRock · 29/12/2010 12:49

I've just watched it,and didn't think much of it.

The boy who plays him annoys me greatly,he seems too sure of himself,and I didn't like him in Outnumbered either.

He's not really how I pictured William either.

sharbie · 29/12/2010 12:51

just seen it - good but not brilliant

BendyBobCratchit · 29/12/2010 12:53

OMG I am one of the biggest Just William fans on the planet, but I have avoided this.

I've never found anything that tops the books. Even the lovely Martin Jarvis (who obviously is a huge fan) reading them just doesn't hit the spot for me.

It has to be the books - I think it probably has something to do with those fabulous illustrations. They say it all really and then some.

I model my approach to parenting on Aunt Jane; sort of vague and baffled - that's me that is!Grin

EllieDawn · 29/12/2010 18:04

"The boy who plays him annoys me greatly,he seems too sure of himself,and I didn't like him in Outnumbered either."

LetThereBeRock, I totally agree with this, I saw him plugging this show on BBC breakfast the other day and thought "what an annoying little stage schoolish brat."

5Foot5 · 29/12/2010 19:53

I have seen the first two and have enjoyed it hugely. Bendy - I am a huge fan of the books too, always have been, but for me Martin Jarvis reading them is just perfect and now even when I read them myself it is his voice I hear.

I was delighted therefore to realise that he was the narrator for this series and I disagree with those who dislike Daniel Roche in the title role. For me this was a stroke of genious casting. Of curse he is annoying and sure of himself - that is William Brown.

Definitely one of the best things that have been on the TV this Christmas. A superb adaptation and I do hope they do more.

belindarose · 29/12/2010 20:35

I thought it was awful! DH and I love the Martin Jarvis recordings and listen to them on long car journeys. I read and re-read them all as a child too. The little girl playing Violet Elizabeth was AWFUL! Daniel Roche was okay. The Brown family were nowhere near posh enough!

bluebump · 29/12/2010 21:45

I think the girl who played Violet was from Green Balloon Club and that was enought for me to turn off!

mejon · 29/12/2010 22:21

Absolutely love the books and the Martin Jarvis Radio 4 adaptations and hadn't realised it was on when it was - but I had decided to boycott it like bluebump due to the awful GBC girl.

Original poster
TheLastMelon · 30/12/2010 12:16

Ah it's a shame not everyone is enjoying it, especially those who have read the books. We used to listen to the stories on tape at school in our English class, fond memories!

Agree that Martin Jarvis is the perfect narrator for the tv show, makes me want to listen to the tapes again!

OP posts:
southeastastra · 30/12/2010 13:15

my ds(9) is watching it now and loves it! i suppose it is aimed at boys and not middle ages women Wink

5Foot5 · 30/12/2010 16:51

"The Brown family were nowhere near posh enough!"

But the Brown families "poshness" does decline with the later books. Richmal Crompton was writing them from the 20s to about the 50s or 60s and in the earlier ones they are quite a well heeled establishment with servants and so on. But she had definitely given them a more modest houshold by the later books.

I read an article (might have been Radio Times but I forget) where they said that they had to decide which era to set them in and felt that the 50s would work better.

Anyway DH, DD and myself are loving them!

belindarose · 30/12/2010 17:01

Yes, true, 5foot5. They were less posh later on. I have an interview with Richmal Crompton in my CD set and she does talk about that. Anyway, glad your DC are enjoying it.

Alouiseg · 30/12/2010 17:05

I love it! The only tv I've watched and enjoyed this Christmas.

I love William and have lots of very tatty 1920's hardbound books that I used to read avidly as a child. Mum used to buy them for 50p from antique shops when I was little and I'm extremely glad I hung on to them.

chubbasmum · 30/12/2010 21:33

im loving it i remember reading the books as well and i dont know what happened to them.

My little William is just like William its in the name i think ;)

Tabliope · 30/12/2010 22:34

I've got my dad's old original hardback books and loved them as a kid. I've always been disappointed with each casting of William - they never make him pugnacious enough (look at the illustrations) and I haven't tuned into this latest adaptation as I don't think the current actor has been well cast at all. Brilliant books.

turnitup · 31/12/2010 09:17

Me and the DC's are really enjoying this.

I just love the whole tone of it....lovely stuff

notheroldie · 31/12/2010 10:04

I think its brilliant!

I haven't read the books nor seen the William boy in Outnumbered so I have no comparason, but I think hes really good.
If anyone remembers a previous tv adaptation, (about 30yrs ago) it starred Bonnie Langford as Violet Elizabeth and she was bloody awful. the Green Balloon girl is just perfect!

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