BBC, Moonage Pictures (“The Gentlemen”) and Nicolas Winding Refn announced filming has begun on a brand-new series of “The Famous Five” for the BBC in the UK, in co-production with The Mediapro Studio which also holds the distribution rights for the series in Spain, Portugal, and Latin America. The 2 x 90’ series is created for television and executive produced by Nicolas Winding Refn (byNWR) & Matthew Read (Moonage Pictures) and follows on from the highly successful first series which aired on the BBC. The premiere, The Curse of Kirrin Island, was CBBC’s number one rated episode in 2023.
Diaana Babnicova returns as George, alongside Elliott Rose as Julian, Kit Rakusen as Dick and Flora Jacoby Richardson as Anne. Making up the fifth member of “The Famous Five” and the gang’s faithful furry friend, is Kip, the Bearded Collie Cross playing Timmy the dog.
With Jack Gleeson, James Lance, Ann Akinjirin also reprising their roles, they are joined by new cast members, including Spanish actress Maria Pedraza (“Money Heist,” “Elite”), Amir Wilson (“His Dark Materials”), James Wilby (“Poldark”), Rita Tushingham (“A Taste of Honey”), Jemima Rooper (“Geek Girl”), Jonathan Aris (“Sherlock”) and Jamie Andrew Cutler (“The Hurricane Heist”). Rooper starred as George in the 1990s “Famous Five” TV series and now takes on the role of Angela Clutterbuck, a guest staying at a mysterious hotel.
“The Famous Five” is based on Enid Blyton’s iconic stories and follows the daring young explorers as they encounter treacherous, action-packed adventures, remarkable mysteries, unparalleled danger and astounding secrets. Series two takes the heroes into strange and challenging waters as they face life during wartime – and the hazards of growing up.
The new series sees the fearless young heroes encounter a host of new problems. Julian is under strict instructions to be a responsible older brother and keep his siblings safe whilst George is committed to seeking out the best and biggest adventures against Julian’s advice. Dick is trying to be brave as the threat of war gets closer, and Anne's formidable self-assurance is growing by the day. And Timmy? Timmy is deeply perturbed by the dwindling availability of sausages in Kirrin Cottage.
James Lance said: “'I am delighted to be back playing Uncle Quentin in ‘The Famous Five.’ This series is a gem. It is a privilege to be working with our wonderful cast with the sweetest co-star, dear Kip who plays Timmy the dog as we follow him on these magical adventures.”
Matthew Read, Moonage Pictures added: “Thanks to the hugely positive audience response and international success of the first three films, Moonage Pictures is delighted to be going on further adventures with ‘The Famous Five.’ It’s been a real joy bringing these new stories to life with my good friend Nicolas Winding Refn and our wonderful cast and crew. We are so happy that Guy Andrews and Tom Bidwell have come on board to write these two new stories, encapsulating the thrill and excitement of the beloved books for a modern audience.”
Nicolas Winding Refn, creator and executive producer, stated: “The excitement I feel for the return of ‘The Famous Five’ fills my inner child with pure content. It is an adventure to manifest the youthful fantasies of my imagination and watch these characters, essentially my lifelong friends, continue to blossom and evolve. This second season is sure to inspire and elicit unadulterated elation!”
Patricia Hidalgo, Director BBC Children’s and Education, mentioned: “The glorious first series of ‘The Famous Five’ brought families together to enjoy these timeless British stories which are so loved around the world. Homegrown stories, that resonate across generations and across frontiers, are a key part of our strategy and it’s such a joy to see the return of the young adventurers as they take on daring new mysteries.”
Laura Fernández Espeso, CEO of The Mediapro Studio, commented: "We are thrilled by the success of the first season and excited to embark on this new journey with such a talented team for the upcoming season. ‘The Famous Five’ is a cornerstone for The Mediapro Studio, delivering a top-tier adaptation of a beloved youth literature classic that resonates deeply with today's audiences. This collaboration has not only solidified our partnership with the esteemed BBC Studios but also strengthened our commitment to producing high-quality English-language content."
The series was commissioned by Sarah Muller, Senior Head of BBC Children’s Commissioning 7+ and the commissioning editor for the BBC is Amy Buscombe. Laura Fernández Espeso will be an Executive Producer for The Mediapro Studio and Karen Lawler is the Executive Producer for Hachette.
Film one “Mystery at the Prospect Hotel” will be directed by Asim Abbasi and Tom Vaughan will direct film two "Big Trouble on Billycock Hill" and produced by Moonage Pictures and byNWR Originals for the BBC and The Mediapro Studio. BBC Studios, who have a minority stake in Moonage, are distributing the series internationally outside Spain, Portugal and Latin America, where they have architected a deal with The Mediapro Studio Distribution. Executive Producers are Nicolas Winding Refn, Matthew Read, Will Gould, Frith Tiplady, Asim Abbasi, Tom Vaughan and Laura Fdez. Espeso. The series is produced by Sophie MacClancy and Big Trouble on Billycock Hill’is produced by Matthew Wilson.
The first series of “The Famous Five” is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.