BBC opens up The Diary of Adrian Mole for new adaptation of Sue Townsend’s novel

FIRST LOOK: Oliver Savell takes on the titular role in The Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾, a new BBC adaptation of Sue Townsend’s novel now in production around Hartlepool and Sunderland.

Bafta-nominated Savell (Changing Ends) plays Adrian in a nine-part series that opens on New Year’s Day 1981, when Adrian starts his uniquely funny diary about family life and being a teenager before the advent of mobile phones and social media. With only a multi-coloured ballpoint pen as his guide, Adrian worries about his spots, his parents’ divorce, the torment of first love and the fact he’s never seen a female nipple.

Lisa McGrillis (Rivals) plays Adrian’s mother Pauline and Colin Hoult (After Life) plays his father George. Pam Ferris (Matilda) is Grandma, Galaxie Clear (Secret Service) is Pandora and Alun Armstrong (Breeders) is Bert.

Other cast include Jude Forsey as Nigel, Rory Keenan as Mr Lucas, David Wilmot as Mr Scruton and Karl Collins as Mr Cherry.

The series is being adapted for the screen by David Nicholls (One Day, Us), with Caitlin Moran and Caroline Moran (Raised By Wolves), Dillon Mapletoft and Oliver Taylor (Everyone Else Burns) and Jack Rooke (Big Boys).

It is a Big Talk Studios production. The director is Alex Winckler (Somewhere Boy, Mary and George) and the producer is Charlotte Robinson (A Thousand Blows).

The executive producers are Kenton Allen and Luke Alkin for Big Talk Studios, and David Nicholls and Alex Winckler. The series will air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One.

The production is supported by the North East Production Fund delivered on behalf of the North East Screen Industries Partnership (NESIP) by North East Screen.

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