THE FAMOUS FIVE RETURNS TO BBC THIS EASTER: FIRST LOOK, CASTING AND STORY

One of CBBC’s biggest hits of 2023 - The Famous Five – a reimagining of Enid Blyton’s iconic stories – returns in 2024 with two brand new action-packed episodes, with the first coming to BBC One this Easter.

Brought to life by Nicolas Winding Refn (byNWR) and Matthew Read (Moonage Pictures), the two upcoming feature-length 90’ episodes follow the daring young explorers as they face unparalleled danger and unravel remarkable mysteries.

Reprising their roles as Aunt Fanny and Uncle Quentin are Ann Akinjirin (Moon Knight) and James Lance (Ted Lasso). They are joined in episode two by Ed Speleers (Downton Abbey) as Mr Roland and Nora Arnezeder (Army of the Dead) as Sabrina Grover.

Coming in Easter episode two Peril On The Night Train is a cross-country thriller involving Quentin’s invention of a state-of-the-art proto-computer dubbed ‘the Algebra Engine’. With war on the horizon, the contraption is critical for the country’s counter intelligence efforts and it’s a race against time to prevent the machine falling into enemy hands.

The four rising star actors return as the young protagonists at the helm of the family favourite series: siblings Julian (Elliott Rose), Dick (Kit Rakusen) and Anne (Flora Jacoby Richardson) and their cousin George (Diaana Babnicova), plus Kip, the Bearded Collie Cross playing Timmy the dog.

Joining the cast for episode three, The Eye Of The Sunrise, are Jason Flemyng (Snatch) as circus magician the Great Supremo and Art Malik (True Lies) as Sir Lincoln Aubrey.

Patricia Hildago, Director of BBC Children’s and Education, says: “A whole a new generation of viewers enjoyed the first instalment of these action-packed, epic adventures. Episode one was one of the biggest hits with parents and children alike, bringing families together, and we can’t wait for viewers to see what’s in store for The Famous Five.”

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. Executive Producers are Nicolas Winding Refn, Matthew Read, Will Gould, Frith Tiplady, Christina Bostofte Erritzøe, Kimberly Willming and Matthew Bouch. Producer is Sophie MacClancy.

Episode two, Peril On The Night Train was written by Priya Dosanjh and it was directed by Asim Abbasi. Episode three, The Eye Of The Sunrise was written by Matthew Read and Matthew Bouch and it was directed by Bill Eagles.

Episode one of The Famous Five is available now on BBC iPlayer with episode two coming to BBC One soon and episode three coming to later in 2024.