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Movies & TV

04th Dec 2019

Here’s the first trailer for the Worzel Gummidge reboot going out this Christmas

Paul Moore

worzel gummidge

Plenty of viewers will remember a character set to return in two new one-hour films.

The BBC have confirmed that the modern adaptation of Worzel Gummidge will be shown on BBC One in two one-hour films over Christmas. The first feature will be shown on St. Stephen’s Day at at 6.20pm followed by the second the following day (Friday, 27 December) at 7pm.

Mackenzie Crook, who writes, directs and stars as Worzel Gummidge, will take us back to Scatterbrook Farm and reintroduce us to the characters that viewers of a certain age will know very well.

The first episode, The Scarecrow of Scatterbrook, sees two young strangers arrive in the village of Scatterbrook. It’s not long before Susan and John encounter Worzel Gummidge, the Scarecrow of Ten Acre Field.

Their world is sent spinning into confusion when they realise Gummidge comes to life. The only person more shocked is Worzel, when he discovers that the children are not in fact fellow scarecrows but humans.

Their worlds should never commune but fate has conspired to create an extraordinary union. The seasons have stopped and the harvest hasn’t arrived. The rhythm of the natural world is out of kilter and this unlikely trio must try to put it right. Magic, mystery and mayhem unfurl.

The second episode, The Green Man, welcomes another mysterious arrival to Scatterbrook. The Green Man is the creator of scarecrows and keeper of scarecrow lore. He isn’t at all happy that Worzel is consorting with humans. Elsewhere, local aristocrat Lady Bloomsbury Barton is holding a fete, with a Scarecrow competition that Worzel is determined to win. What will Worzel’s most competitive rival, Soggy Bogart and The Green Man make of it all?

Speaking about the role, Mackenzie 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.”

Elsewhere, the cast includes Michael Palin as The Green Man, Vicki Pepperdine as the formidable Aunt Sally and Zoë Wanamaker as the eccentric local aristocrat, Lady Bloomsbury Barton.

Steve Pemberton, Rosie Cavaliero, India Brown, and Thierry Wickens also co-star.

Take a look at what’s in store.

Topics:

BBC,TV