Just William (BBC-1 2010, Daniel Roche, Warren Clarke)

A rather lovely new take on Richmal Crompton’s much loved mischievous schoolboy Just William adapted by Simon Nye and updates to the 1950’s and adding in the nice touch of using Martin Jarvis as the narrator (he has made the character his own in recent years with his fabulous radio versions of the books).

As the four parter begins young William and his gang The Outlaws are not happy to find that their favourite “hunting ground” – the woods around Croombe Hall are out of bounds thanks to new owners The Botts. Worse their daughter Violet Elizabeth is exactly the kind of girl the boys don’t want hanging around. Later William decides to give an illuminating talk to his family about animals, has trouble at home thanks to a less than perfect school report and in the final episode William actually finds a girl that he does like in the shape of tomboy Dorinda.

Wonderful stuff, Crompton’s stories never get old would have been nice to have seen more than four episodes madee. Young Daniel Roche (who had previously appeared in Outnumbered) makes a great William too!

production details
UK / BBC-1 / 4×30 minute episodes / Broadcast Tuesday 28 – Friday 31 December 2010 @ 12.30pm

Writer: Simon Nye / Producer: John Chapman / Director: Paul Seed

cast
MARTIN JARVIS as Narrator
DANIEL ROCHE as William Brown
ISABELLA BLAKE-THOMAS as Violet Elizabeth Bott
HARRY MELLING as Robert Brown
WARREN CLARKE as Mr Bott
CAROLINE QUENTIN as Mrs Bott
REBECCA FRONT as Mrs Brown
DANIEL RYAN as Mr Brown
JORDAN GREHS as Ginger
EDWARD PIERCY as Douglas
ROBERT FOSTER as Henry
JUDY PARFITT as Aunt Augusta
LILY JAMES as Ethel Brown
ROY HUDD as Bob
DENIS LAWSON as The School Headmaster
LOTTIE BELL as Dorinda
MAX HILLER as Dalrymple
JOHN SESSIONS as Mr Welbecker
BRUCE MacKINNON as Mr Attwater
ADAM GILLEN as Hector
RICHARD SOUTHGATE as George
PAUL THORNLEY as Gamekeeper