Iconic bestselling novel The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole is coming to the BBC from a creative team led by One Day author David Nicholls.
Nicholls has assembled a team featuring Caitlin Moran and Caroline Moran (Raised By Wolves), Dillon Mapletoft and Oliver Taylor (Everyone Else Burns), and Jack Rooke (Big Boys) to adapt The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾, the first in Sue Townsend’s beloved series.
A nationwide casting search is underway for the lead, an awkward boy entering his teens before the advent of mobile phones and social media who writes a diary about his spots, his parents’ divorce, the torment of first love and the fact he’s never seen a female nipple. In the background is early-1980s Britain, with historic events such as Margaret Thatcher’s rule, the Falklands War and the marriage of Prince Charles to Diana covered off.
The 10-part show comes from The Outlaws producer Big Talk Studios and represents the BBC’s next big adaptation of an iconic British work, having also made Lord of the Flies and The Famous Five of late. Nicholls’ novel One Day was recently adapted for Netflix to acclaim but with Adrian Mole here he is taking on the role of adapter.
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Nicholls said: “I happen to be just a little older than Adrian and have adored this book since reading it on publication. It’s a classic piece of comic writing and an incredible piece of ventriloquism on Sue Townsend’s part – how did she know? Adapting Adrian for the screen is an absolute pleasure.”
Big Talk boss Kenton Allen added: “As a proud state educated Midlands boy myself, I recognised so much of my own upbringing in Sue Townsend’s classic novels and David Nicholls’ beautifully observed adaptation of them – the humour, the heartbreak, the quiet heroism of ordinary lives.”
The Secret Diary book was previously made into an ITV TV show starring Gian Sammarco as the titular character and featuring Julie Walters, Stephen Moore and Beryl Reid. The latest adaptation was The Cappucino Years for the BBC in 2001, which featured Stephen Mangan.
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ is a Big Talk production for BBC iPlayer and BBC One. The series was commissioned by Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama. The director is Alex Winckler (Somewhere Boy, Mary and George) and the producer is Charlotte Robinson (A Thousand Blows). The executive producers are Allen and Luke Alkin for Big Talk, and Nicholls. The estate of Townsend is represented by Jane Villiers at Sayle Screen. Big Talk is part of ITV Studios.