Braithwaite

Settobroadcastintwoone-hourfilms,thisfamilytreatisinspiredbytheclassicbooksofBarbaraEuphanToddandispeggedtobetheTVeventoftheseason.MackenzieCrookhastakenScatterbrookfarmandtheinfamouscharactersofthiswell-lovedtaleandinjectedthemwithatenderandauthenticcharm.Thisistheperfectfamilyadventure,packedwithafun,mischievousspiritanddeliveredwithanenvironmentalmessage.MackenzieCrook,(PiratesOfTheCaribbean,Detectorists)whohaswritten,directedandstarsasWorzelGummidge,hasgatheredahostofbothaccomplishedandbrilliantactorswhoaresettoappearinthiseagerlyanticipatedadaptation.PlayingTheGreenMan,creatorofthescarecrows,whoarrivestoScatterbrookinepisodetwo,iscomedylegendSirMichaelPalin.Hesays:“It’salovelypartforme,butthewholescriptisverymemorableandtouching,andveryfunnytoo.Itquiteskillfullyweavesinsomethingforeverybodyallthetime.”ZoëWanamaker(MyFamily,HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone)willplaytheeccentriclocalaristocrat,LadyBloomsburyBartoninepisodetwo.Shesays:“Thewholethingissocharmingandinventive.It’sthesortofthingI’dwatch.I’msureitwillbeahugesuccess.Iknowitwill-it’sdivine.”VickiPepperdine(GettingOn,TheWindsors)takesontheroleoftheformidableAuntSallyinepisodeone.Shesays:“There’ssomethingforeverybody.It’sgotthishearttoit,andyou’dbehardpushedasanadultnottoengagewithit.”StevePemberton(LeagueOfGentleman,Benidorm)willplayMrBraithwaite,thefarmer.Hesays:“Thisisthekindofshowthewholefamilycanenjoytogether.Ithasalotofhumour,alotofvisualhumourtoo,andIthinkkidswillenjoywatchingthechildrenbeingcentraltothestory.”RosieCavaliero(GentlemanJack,CleaningUp)willplayMrsBraithwaite,sheadded:“It’sastoryabouttheimagination,andchildrenescapingintothisdifferentworld.Mackenzie’sversionistotallycontemporary.”OnestowatchIndiaBrown(HettyFeather)andThierryWickens(makinghisTVdebut)willplaySusanandJohn,twocitychildrenspendingtheirsummeratScatterbrookfarmwhoquicklybefriendWorzelandbeginasummerofadventures.Thefirstepisode,TheScarecrowOfScatterbrook,seestwoyoungstrangersarriveinthevillageofScatterbrook.It’snotlongbeforeSusanandJohnencounterWorzelGummidge,theScarecrowofTenAcreField.TheirworldissentspinningintoconfusionwhentheyrealiseGummidgecomestolife.TheonlypersonmoreshockedisWorzel,whenhediscoversthatthechildrenarenotinfactfellowscarecrowsbuthumans.Theirworldsshouldnevercommunebutfatehasconspiredtocreateanextraordinaryunion.Theseasonshavestoppedandtheharvesthasn’tarrived.Therhythmofthenaturalworldisoutofkilterandthisunlikelytriomusttrytoputitright.Magic,mysteryandmayhemunfurl.Thesecondepisode,TheGreenMan,welcomesanothermysteriousarrivaltoScatterbrook.TheGreenManisthecreatorofscarecrowsandkeeperofscarecrowlore.Heisn’tatallhappythatWorzelisconsortingwithhumans.Elsewhere,localaristocratLadyBloomsburyBartonisholdingafete,withaScarecrowcompetitionthatWorzelisdeterminedtowin.WhatwillTheGreenManandWorzel’smostcompetitiverival,SoggyBogartmakeofitall?WorzelGummidgeiswrittenanddirectedbyMackenzieCrookandisaLeopardPictures,TreasureTroveProductionsandLolaEntertainmentproductionforBBCOne.ItisExecutiveProducedbyKristianSmithforLeopardPictures,LisaThomasforLolaEntertainment,MackenzieCrookforTreasureTroveProductions,withrightsholdersPatrickD.PidgeonandEricS.RollmanexecutiveproducersforPidgeonEntertainment,Inc.ItisproducedbyGeorgieFallonandAlexMoodyistheCommissioningEditorfortheBBC.Furthercasting:FrancescaMills-EarthyMangoldTimPlester-ClartyColinMichaelCarmichael-SoggyBogartAndrewJamesSpooner-FlatAlistairPhilHulford-HannahHarrowTomMeeten-HMSOdneyChristopher-RobertBarlow-RagBagKiranShah-ChopperandRootBoundCharlieMayhew-RustleSprouterLucyMontgomery-JackiePuddingGusBrown-OswaldPollypopMalikIbheis-TrikeBenLangley-DriverMariamHaque-Receptionist