Set to broadcast in two one-hour films, this family treat is inspired by the classic books of Barbara Euphan Todd and is pegged to be the TV event of the season. Mackenzie Crook has taken Scatterbrook farm and the infamous characters of this well-loved tale and injected them with a tender and authentic charm. This is the perfect family adventure, packed with a fun, mischievous spirit and delivered with an environmental message.
Mackenzie Crook, (Pirates Of The Caribbean, Detectorists) who has written, directed and stars as Worzel Gummidge, has gathered a host of both acplished and brilliant actors who are set to appear in this eagerly anticipated adaptation.
Playing The Green Man, creator of the scarecrows, who arrives to Scatterbrook in episode two, is edy legend Sir Michael Palin. He says: “It’s a lovely p for me, but the whole script is very memorable and touching, and very funny too. It quite skillfully weaves in something for everybody all the time.”
Zoë Wanamaker (My Family, Harry Potter And The Philosophers Stone) will play the eentric local aristocrat, Lady Bloomsbury Bon in episode two. She says: “The whole thing is so charming and inventive. It’s the sort of thing I’d watch. I’m sure it will be a huge suess. I know it will - it’s divine.”
Vicki Pepperdine (Getting On, The Windsors) takes on the role of the formidable Aunt Sally in episode one. She says: “There’s something for everybody. It’s got this he to it, and you’d be hard pushed as an adult not to engage with it.”
Steve Pemberton (League Of Gentleman, Benidorm) will play Mr Braithwaite, the farmer. He says: “This is the kind of show the whole family can enjoy together. It has a lot of humour, a lot of visual humour too, and I think kids will enjoy watching the children being central to the story.”
Rosie Cavaliero (Gentleman Jack, Cleaning Up) will play Mrs Braithwaite, she added: “It’s a story about the imagination, and children escaping into this different world. Mackenzie’s version is totally ntemporary.”
Ones to watch India Brown (Hetty Feather) and Thierry Wickens (making his TV debut) will play Susan and John, two city children spending their summer at Scatterbrook farm who quickly befriend Worzel and begin a summer of adventures.
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 enunter Worzel Gummidge, the Scarecrow of Ten Acre Field. Their world is sent spinning into nfusion when they realise Gummidge es to life. The only person more shocked is Worzel, when he disvers that the children are not in fact fellow scarecrows but humans.
Their worlds should never mune but fate has nspired to create an extraordinary union. The seasons have sped 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 send episode, The Green Man, weles 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 nsorting with humans. Elsewhere, local aristocrat Lady Bloomsbury Bon is holding a fete, with a Scarecrow petition that Worzel is determined to win. What will The Green Man and Worzel's most petitive rival, Soggy Bog make of it all?
Worzel Gummidge is written and directed by Mackenzie Crook and is a Leopard Pictures, Treasure Trove Productions and Lola Entertainment duction for BBC One. It is Executive Produced by Kristian Smith for Leopard Pictures, Lisa Thomas for Lola Entertainment, Mackenzie Crook for Treasure Trove Productions, with rights holders Patrick D. Pidgeon and Eric S. Rollman executive ducers for Pidgeon Entertainment, Inc. It is duced by Geie Fallon and Alex Moody is the Commissioning Editor for the BBC.
Further casting:
Francesca Mills - Ehy Mangold
Tim Plester - Cly
Colin Michael Carmichael - Soggy Bog
Andrew James Spooner - Flat Alistair
Phil Hulford - Hannah Harrow
Tom Meeten - HMS Odney
Chrisher-Robert Barlow - Rag Bag
Kiran Shah - Chopper and Root Bound
Charlie Mayhew - Rustle Suter
Lucy Montgomery - Jackie Pudding
Gus Brown - Oswald Pollypop
Malik Ibheis - Trike
Ben Langley - Driver
Mariam Haque - Receptionist