Worzel Gummidge Adaptation Set for BBC One

ADVERTISEMENT

BBC One has commissioned a new adaptation of Worzel Gummidge, written and directed by Mackenzie Crook, who also stars as the titular scarecrow.

Inspired by Barbara Euphan Todd’s books, Crook’s Worzel Gummidge will be told in two hour-long films. The first 60-minute episode, “The Scarecrow of Scatterbrook,” will see two young strangers, Susan and John, arriving in the village of Scatterbrook and encountering Worzel Gummidge, the Scarecrow of Ten Acre Field. In the second episode, “The Green Man,” the trio is introduced to the creator of scarecrows and keeper of scarecrow lore, and Worzel battles Soggy Bogart in a scarecrow competition.

Worzel Gummidge is a Leopard Pictures, Treasure Trove Productions and Lola Entertainment production for BBC One.

Crook said: “I’m thrilled to be back working with the BBC and many members of the Detectorists team to bring Worzel Gummidge to a new generation of viewers and reintroduce him to old friends. Adapting Barbara Euphan Todd’s books into these two films has been a joy and I’ve completely fallen for her charming, irreverent scarecrow. Fingers crossed for a glorious English summer as we head out to Scatterbrook Farm and Worzel’s Ten Acre Field.”

Shane Allen, controller of comedy commissioning at the BBC, said: “Mackenzie’s widely adored and multi-BAFTA-award-winning Detectorists was a grown-up love letter to bucolic England, and with Worzel, he takes a similar approach to English folklore, rural rites and the magic of childhood. His visionary and fundamental reinterpretation of this classic is that rare and special achievement—a BBC One family-friendly comedy.”

Kristian Smith, executive producer for Leopard Pictures, added: “These two specials are real treat pieces for a family audience. There was nobody other than Mackenzie that I wanted to work with on this. The vision and creativity of this man is awesome. He has written two beautiful scripts that are clever, warm and funny. And once again he has attracted a formidable cast of tremendous actors. We are so excited to be able to bring these new Worzel Gummidge stories to everybody.”