The BBC has greenlit a new TV adaptation of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4, bringing one of the most loved British characters back to screens.
The 10 part run comes from Big Talk Studios and is led by writer David Nicholls, known for One Day and Us. He will work with a team of writers to shape the new version.
A nationwide casting search is now taking place to find the young actor who will play Adrian, with casting director Robert Sterne leading the hunt.
The series is based on Sue Townsend’s best selling book and begins on New Year’s Day 1981. Adrian writes in his diary about school, growing up and the ups and downs of life at home before the age of smart phones and social media.
His days are shaped by his parents’ trouble, first crushes, and the strange mix of calm and chaos of a small English suburb. Viewers will meet the key people in his life, from Pandora to his strong minded grandma and his older friend Bert Baxter.
David 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.”
The new series, produced by Big Talk Studios, will run for ten episodes and air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK.
A previous TV adaptation of the book debuted in 1985, running for one series and six episodes.
A further adaptation, Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years , aired on BBC One in 2001 with Stephen Mangan in the title role.
