Fünf Freunde

Since growing up is based on curiosity, experimenting, and also learning to live with the consequences, this TV show, as well as the books it's based on, are awesome references for kids in that aspect. Even if the show is rather light on the 'consequence' part, the young group has actual scares and gets punished when they misbehave.

For a child, everything is really a mystery, something to be discovered and understood. In my opinion, the mindset that this show tries to develop is essential if you want to grow up.

Also, this show was extremely entertaining!

I remember being extremely pleased when I saw that Enid Blyton's 'Famous Five' was to be televised. Like so many children growing up in the 1970s, I loved Enid Blyton's books and still have most of my collection. I could never understand - and still cannot - why so many people sneered at her writing.

The 1970s series had a contemporary setting which meant, obviously, that some aspects of the books had to be updated. Nevertheless, the televised stories lost none of the appeal of the books. One could identify even more closely with the exploits of the Five as they whizzed down hills on their bicycles, devoured their cream teas and brought the local crooks to justice.

Additionally, the characters were well cast and remained true to the books. Eldest child Julian (Marcus Harris) was still the intelligent, sometimes over-authoritative leader whilst Dick (Gary Russell, previously Cyril in 'The Phoenix and the Carpet') was the gentler, thoughtful younger brother. Anne (Jennifer Thanisch) was more mature (thankfully!) than her book character. She still tended to prefer to opt out of the adventures although it was usually she who ended up saving the day for the others. George (Michelle Gallagher - spelt correctly?), plus her sidekick Timmy the dog (Toddy), remained the most complex character - the headstrong, fearless, loyal, truthful tomboy - based as she was on the young Enid Blyton. Sue Best was suitably maternal as Aunt Fanny whilst Michael Hinz added an element of mystery to the character of the absent-minded scientist Uncle Quentin Kirrin.

I bought four episodes of the 1970s series on video in the early '90s but do not know if it is still available. My favourite 'Famous Five' book was 'Five Go To Smuggler's Top' and it was given prominence as one of the few two-parter episodes of the t.v. series. Block the butler has to be one of the most enduring characters in children's literature!

I should be interested to know what became of the child actors, who would be around the forty mark now. Marcus Harris appeared on 'After They Were Famous' a couple of years ago; he was working with computers and writing a book. Does anyone know where the others are?

The 1978 Famous Five series has always been a favourite with me. I was only 12 at the time it began, but watched repeats of it during my teens. I always loved Michelle as George, but I've heard that she died some time ago. This is very sad if true! It is lovely to think we have this series to remember her by. I'm glad that the rest of the 'Five' in this show are still living and doing well. I have most of this series on DVD now and even though I'm well out of my youth, still play the show once in a while. I liked Quentin Kirrin in this series and his wife, they were great and Quentin was very much like his book self, eccentric, short-tempered,yet gentle and kind. Although, I wish we had seen a little of Julian, Dick and Anne's parents-they did occasionally come into the books, but I can't remember much of them in the series, at all-if you watch the 1996 series you do see them with their 3 children, a little. I wish more of Enid Blyton's books were produced for TV, children still love them and read them today. The 1996 series of 'Five' is also a very good one for those who enjoy this Blyton series.

I was 9 when I read my first Famous Five book, which I borrowed from a friend. It was "Five have a Wonderful Time", the adventure of the scientist being held kidnapped in the old castle and the Five's troubles with the fairground people. From that day on I became an addict. Enid Blyton certainly had the knack for creating interesting stories with a great deal of suspense that kept you in tenterhooks. In a little over four years I managed to gather the entire collection of the FF books, 1980s hardback Spanish editions which I still own today. This series was first broadcast in Spain in 1978 -I was too young at that time but I remember it-, and then again in the summer-autumn of 1987, when I was 14 and had read all of the books many times. I loved it right away, although I found the original 1940s and 50s settings converted into contemporary 1970's with bottom-bell trousers, long-haired boys and the Ford Fiestas and Cortinas a little funny. Still, the kids' acting is all right, and they had talent: George is the always stubborn tomboy but quite likable, Anne is a lot more mature than in the original stories and a lot less whining -fortunately!-, Julian is the same I-know-everything bossy type but fine and always in charge as expected, and Dick -always my favourite- is very much like in the books too, mostly in the background and always under Julian's authority, but always gentle, very smart, and he saves the day quite a few times. Also, the adults are very well played. German actor Michael Hinz makes an excellent Uncle Quentin, since he brings to the character a maturity he very seldom has in the books where he is prone to sudden tantrums, is always absent-minded and also bit of a fool. Sue Best is also very good as Aunt Fanny, very much like in the books. And then we have Rogers, the gardener, instead of Joan the cook as a servant, but I like him all right and his scenes are often comical, like rolling his eyes every time the Five come home for holidays -oh blimey, tranquility is over!- and chasing Timmy out of his beloved flower beds. And then what a cast of guest actors to play the baddies: Ronald Fraser, Peter Jeffrey, David Rappaport, Patrick Troughton, Brian Glover, the always posh James Villiers... You will never see a cast like this in a children's series nowadays.

This was a favourite children's show on its release in the late 70s and it was aimed right at my age. As a child the adventures were wild. Children read the books and this show excited many more to do so. Such a treat on a weekday night to have an episode. One a week mind. Somehow George was the standout character. She was for all a good rough and readily abled that both boys and girls liked. But that never detracted from all of the other character's input and quality.

I would still rate it highly (and I am). People snigger at the age of the show and its obvious plot holes, but a kid is a kid and any kid whatever era it is in will enjoy this as much as us Gen X.