The Famous Five / Die Funf Freunde

I’ve done many television series but sometimes one suddenly becomes popular again , much to the delight of the people who made it. A few years ago, I proudly wrote and script-edited (along with Richard Sparks) the TV version of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five in 26 half hour films; a co-production between Portman Productions, ITV and German television.

Thanks to the internet and DVD, our Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy the dog romp through the English countryside and solve mysteries once again.

The series starred Michele Gallagher as George; Jennifer Thanisch as Anne; Gary Russell as Dick and Marcus Harris as Julian. Toddy Woodgate made an outstanding Timmy and I took him as my “plus one” to our wrap party, where he was better behaved than a lot of actors I know.

We were also lucky to have some incredible guest stars, including Patrick Troughton from Dr Who, Brian Glover and loads more. We spent two blissful summers filming on the Rothschild estate in Exbury in the New Forest. But our Famous Five adventures didn’t end there.

In the past year, Gary, Marcus and I have been guests at a Famous Five event given by Kaleidoscope Classic Television; a non-profit-making organisation devoted to the appreciation and preservation of
British television shows, and they treated us royally.

Gary, Marcus and I were also honoured guests at a convention held by the Enid Blyton Society, where hundreds of people (many from abroad) came to talk to us about our series.

Now the icing on the cake is our Famous Five series has been at last digitalised and is out on DVD.

It’s currently available in Germany, with the original English, as well as German, soundtrack. I still smile when I hear our distinctive theme song.

Best of all, Jennifer, Marcus, Gary, Richard and I have remained good friends and meet for dinners, where I never cease to remind them what great company Timmy the dog was!

Links

Famous Five/ Funf Freunde fan site
http://ff5.lgfb.de/

Kaleidoscope Classic Television
www.kaleidoscope.org.uk

The Enid Blyton Society
www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk

Then: Michele Gallagher , Gail Renard, Marcus Harris
Jennifer Thanisch and Gary Russell

Now: Marcus Harris, Gail Renard and Gary Russell