Legendary children’s show returning to TV after decades off screen – but with a huge change
THE BBC has begun work on a woke reboot of beloved children’s show The Famous Five to suit “progressive new audiences”.
Originally inspired by Enid Blyton’s gentle tales of daring do from a group of friends, the drama ran for two series in 1978 on ITV.
Now Beeb bosses will ditch words that may cause offence including “queer”, “gay” and even “brown” – even though they may have been used in contexts that don’t refer to sexuality or race.
Showrunner Nicolas Winding Refn said: “All my life I’ve fought vigorously to remain a child with a lust for adventure.
“By reimagining The Famous Five, I am preserving that notion by bringing these iconic stories to life for a progressive new audience, instilling the undefinable allure and enchantment of childhood for current and future generations to come.”
Producer Will Gould added: “In the hands of Nicolas and Matthew this Famous Five will be a modern, timely and irreverent action series with adventure at its heart.”
Despite the changes to the original to fit modern TV audiences, director of BBC Children’s and Education, Patricia Hidalgo praised the show as a “celebration of British heritage”.
“Bringing these books to life with a new reimagining of The Famous Five is a real treat for BBC audiences and a celebration of British heritage,” she said.
“These stories are loved around the world and bringing families together is a key part of our strategy so we hope it introduces a new generation of viewers to these wonderful adventures.”
The “reimagined” saga will return as three 90-minute episodes.
The series follows five daring young explorers as they encounter action-packed adventures .
The BBC has promised viewers “remarkable mysteries and unparalleled danger” in the series.
Casting is to be announced.