The Famous Five

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.

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.

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.

The Famous Five were the first 'novels' I had picked up to read when I turned eight. Enid Blyton's Five brought a lot of adventure into my life and I couldn't wait to read all of them...and then this series was aired on our telly as reruns in the early '80's, every Sunday morning at 10:00 am. The first thing I still remember about this series is the song: We are the Famous Five, Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timmy the dog.

Michelle Gallager as George and Timmy are the two characters I really liked in the adaptation. Marcus Harris was also another child actor who I immediately liked...the story lines were well adapted, as far as I remember - from the perspective of a kid, these episodes were sensational. I watched parts of these shows on youtube again a while back and they still are full of memory. The food that the children eat, the places they have their adventures in, the characters that they portray are all wonderful and take one back to the time when we were children and would love to be a part of one of the Five's fabulous adventures!

At 18, I am a huge Enid Blyton fan. I have read a lot of her books, and have loved them to death. They are funny, charming and have a real sense of innocence and enchantment about them. That said, I absolutely love this show, it maintains all of the charm of the books and is just a lot of fun to watch.

It is pleasant to look at, with crisp photography and the scenery is often gorgeous. The music is wonderful as well, the theme song is great to sing along to and the background music is beautiful, adventurous and haunting. The writing is touching and funny constantly, and the story lines are faithful in structure to the books and still have their sense of adventure and fun.

Everybody acting wise are well cast, from lead down to supporting. Julian is still intelligent, Dick is gentle, Anne is actually more likable than she is in the books and George is suitably tomboy-ish. Aunt Fanny is an inspiring mother figure and Professor Kirren is fussy, strict yet caring and intelligent. The real star though is Toddy the dog as Timmy, I loved Timmy in the books, I adored him here, he is so cute and likable not to mention well trained as well.

Overall, if you love Enid Blyton and love the Famous Five, I think you will like/love this. 10/10 Bethany Cox