BBC to bring the famous five to TV

[Dinopawus]

Just seen this in the Times.

For the love of Timmy, can the BBC please leave George as the Tom-boy she is?

Im not confident.

Famous Five go on a progressive adventure for new generation in TV adaptation

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/25335ec2-1388-11ee-b768-bb6d328f2d92?shareToken=8042c7bc7e8225df45e0537407fb335a

Nicolas Winding Refn is such a weird person to be doing the famous five.

I'm picturing a picnic with lashings and lashings of ginger beer under harsh neon lights where no-one speaks, followed by the graphic dismemberment of a main character.

He's not been woke or fashionable with his previous work so I think there is a fair chance he wouldn't do something as naff as Transing George.

Justmuddlingalong · Today 08:20
I loved the books and tv series as a child. It was of it's time and if they're going to fart about with it, what's the point?
If the original idea isn't diverse enough for today's kids, something new should be written and produced instead.
Box ticking at it's best.”

This.

Since I was a tomboy, I thought George was bloody wonderful.

Fully expect transing given what the BBC is like these days.

The 1978 series is on Britbox/ITVx at the moment. There was also a series with Jemima Rooper as George from the 1990s though I can't see that streaming anywhere.

It's not even as if the STORIES of FF were very good. I mean, Blyton had about four or five storylines and about a dozen stock archive characters, and just recycled them endlessly. There was rarely much mystery to be solved because you could always tell who the baddy was (mean piggy little eyes etc.). Blyton was very much someone who made instant judgments about people based on their appearance or first impression, and her books reflected that.

There was another similar mystery series written around the same time which was loads better and I'm trying to remember the author and series title....

If the original idea isn't diverse enough for today's kids, something new should be written and produced instead.
Box ticking at it's best.”

Yes. They won’t bear any resemblance to the original books - unless of course BBC decide to use them as an example of what a wicked racist classist woman Enid Blyton was.
I don’t see the point of adapting for TV any book written before the 1980s as all will have aspects which are unacceptable today. As pp have said, write new material.

George has already been a bit queered.

https://amp.theguardian.com/stage/2022/sep/20/childhood-holidays-everyone-wishes-they-had-the-famous-five-return-in-a-musical

Absolutely! I hold no candle for Enid Blyton although I read loads of her books as a child. Many children love a formula and knowing exactly what to expect - possibly because when you're a newish reader it makes it easier to have an idea what's going to come next. Also the familiar is comforting - adventure with no real peril.

I doubt any actual children are calling for this remake. Enid Blyton isn't a "name" to them surely?

Oh god - you just know how this is going to go. It will be a tick box exercise in diversity, probably with a good dollop of mental health awareness thrown in for good measure. YY to George being trans - no girl these days can have short hair and play sports without being trans?

Why is everyone getting in a rage about something that they don't know how will be presented

I'm not personally in a rage. More of an eye roll and tut from me.

They had better leave George alone. I was a short-haired tomboy and I loved George. First FF book I ever read was one where she and Timmy did a Horatio holding the bridge act in a tunnel, letting Julian and Dick help Anne escape the evil pursuers after Anne twisted her ankle (of course she did).

Yes loved the comic strip version! And I also remember the 1970s tv series, in fact I can still remember the theme tune.

I will wait with interest to see what you do with it. We are a mixed race family and Enid Blyton is quite popular in my Indian family as I know it is/was with many. I loved the books growing up. Sorry but I see no reason why any of the characters cannot be people of colour and I would welcome this. This after all is a children's adventure story. It is not going to be an historically accurate drama. The producers will have a lot more sense than to disappear down a TG rabbit hole. George can just be the active robust child she always has been and we will love her for it.

Oh dear George will be trans you watch.

It won't be a remake of the original, it will be a reimagining, with very little sticking to the original, because it seems no one can do that in case it causes offence.

“I'm picturing a picnic with lashings and lashings of ginger beer under harsh neon lights where no-one speaks, followed by the graphic dismemberment of a main character.”
Brilliant! 😂😂

Anything the BBC gets involved with nowadays will be ruined.

Timmy will be played by a child who identifies as a dog

Wonder if Eddie Izzard will reassign himself to fit a part?

George’s mum, perhaps? I can just see it.

Oh dear. I loved the Famous Five and always wanted to be George. I'm not gay or trans, just thought she was a strong and decent character. I think it was very much of its time though.

Perhaps Timmy will self-identify as a cat.

haha! Just realised I remember it too-

We are the Famous Five
Julian, Dick and Anne, George and Timmy the Do-o-og

George was my hero. I looked like the girl who played her on TV and was a unrepentant Tom boy.

I will be surprised if George isn't transed away. Plot twist will be if Anne is transed (mtf).

*an unrepentant tomboy