The Famous Five Season Two Begins Production

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BBC, Moonage Pictures, Nicolas Winding Refn and The Mediapro Studio have begun filming a second season of The Famous Five.

In the new 2×90-minute season, Julian is under strict instructions to be responsible and keep his siblings safe, George commits to seeking out the biggest adventures he can against Julian’s advice, Dick tries to be brave as the threat of war gets closer, Anne’s self-assurance grows, and Timmy becomes worried about the dwindling availability of sausages.

The Famous Five is based on Enid Blyton’s stories of the same name. It is created for television and executive produced by Winding Refn (byNWR) and Matthew Read (Moonage Pictures). The series is co-produced with The Mediapro Studio, which holds the distribution rights for the series in Spain, Portugal and Latin America.

Returning for the second season are Diaana Babnicova, Elliott Rose, Kit Rakusen, Flora Jacoby Richardson, Jack Gleeson, James Lance, Ann Akinjirin and the Bearded Collie Cross Kip.

New cast members joining the second season are Maria Pedraza (Money Heist, Elite), Amir Wilson (His Dark Materials), James Wilby (Poldark), Rita Tushingham (A Taste of Honey), Jemima Rooper (Geek Girl), Jonathan Aris (Sherlock) and Jamie Andrew Cutler (The Hurricane Heist). Rooper starred as George in the 1990s Famous Five TV series.

“I am delighted to be back playing Uncle Quentin in The Famous Five,” Lance said. “This series is a gem. It is a privilege to be working with our wonderful cast with the sweetest co-star, dear Kip who plays Timmy the dog, as we follow him on these magical adventures.”

“Thanks to the hugely positive audience response and international success of the first three films, Moonage Pictures is delighted to be going on further adventures with The Famous Five,” Read commented. “It’s been a real joy bringing these new stories to life with my good friend Nicolas Winding Refn and our wonderful cast and crew. We are so happy that Guy Andrews and Tom Bidwell have come on board to write these two new stories, encapsulating the thrill and excitement of the beloved books for a modern audience.”

Winding Refn added, “The excitement I feel for the return of The Famous Five fills my inner child with pure content. It is an adventure to manifest the youthful fantasies of my imagination and watch these characters, essentially my lifelong friends, continue to blossom and evolve. This second season is sure to inspire and elicit unadulterated elation!”

“The glorious first series of The Famous Five brought families together to enjoy these timeless British stories, which are so loved around the world,” said Patricia Hidalgo, director of BBC Children’s and Education. “Homegrown stories that resonate across generations and across frontiers are a key part of our strategy, and it’s such a joy to see the return of the young adventurers as they take on daring new mysteries.”

Laura Fernández Espeso, CEO of The Mediapro Studio, commented, “We are thrilled by the success of the first season and excited to embark on this new journey with such a talented team for the upcoming season. The Famous Five is a cornerstone for The Mediapro Studio, delivering a top-tier adaptation of a beloved youth literature classic that resonates deeply with today’s audiences. This collaboration has not only solidified our partnership with the esteemed BBC Studios but also strengthened our commitment to producing high-quality English-language content.”