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''Chocky'' is a
science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel uni ...
novel by British writer
John Wyndham John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris (; 10 July 1903 – 11 March 1969) was an English science fiction writer best known for his works published under the pen name John Wyndham, although he also used other combinations of his names ...
. It was first published as a novelette in the March 1963 issue of ''
Amazing Stories ''Amazing Stories'' is an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction. Science fiction stories had made regular appearances ...
'' and later developed into a novel in 1968, published by Michael Joseph. The
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
produced a radio adaption by
John Tydeman John Peter Tydeman OBE (30 March 1936 – 1 April 2020) was an English producer of radio and director of theatre plays. He was responsible for commissioning and directing the early plays of Caryl Churchill, Joe Orton, Tom Stoppard and Sue Townse ...
in 1967. In 1984 a children's television drama based on the novel was shown on ITV in the United Kingdom.


Plot summary

David Gore becomes concerned that his twelve-year-old son, Matthew, is too old to have an
imaginary friend Imaginary friends (also known as pretend friends, invisible friends or made-up friends) are a psychological and social phenomenon where a friendship or other interpersonal relationship takes place in the imagination rather than physical reality. ...
. His concerns deepen as Matthew becomes increasingly distressed and blames it on arguments with this unseen companion, whom he calls "Chocky". As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the friend is far from imaginary, but is an alien consciousness communicating with Matthew's mind; which is of interest to shadowy government forces. "Chocky" reveals that it is a scout sent from its home planet (where there is only one sex) in search of new planets to colonise, or to provide subtle guidance to newly-emerging intelligent life. "Chocky", talking through Matthew, explains to David that in becoming overly attached to Matthew and saving him and his sister from a recent accident, it has violated the rules of its scout mission (interfering with events on Earth) and must end its link with him completely. Its further work on Earth will be conducted in a much more covert manner.


Adaptations


Radio

The novel was adapted and produced by John Tydeman as a single 60 minute drama for the BBC Radio 2, and first broadcast on 27 November 1968. The cast includes: *
Eric Thompson Eric Norman Thompson (9 November 1929 – 30 November 1982) was an English actor, scriptwriter and stage director. He is best remembered for creating and performing the English narration for ''The Magic Roundabout'', which he adapted from ...
- David Gore * Sheila Grant - Mary Gore *
Judy Bennett __NOTOC__ Judy Bennett (born 1943) is a English voice actor whose career in radio began with the long-running soap opera ''The Archers'', in which she has played the role of Shula Hebden-Lloyd since 1971. She played Shula's twin brother Kento ...
- Matthew Gore * Peter Baldwin - Alan Froome * Michael Spice - Sir William Thorpe BBC Radio 4 presented a reading by
Andrew Burt Andrew Thomas Hutchison Burt (23 May 1945 – 16 November 2018) was a British actor, voiceover artist, and counsellor. Early life and education Andrew Burt was born on 23 May 1945 in Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, to Hutchison Bu ...
of the novel in seven 15-minute episodes, abridged by
Neville Teller Neville may refer to: Places *Neville, New South Wales, Australia *Neville, Saskatchewan, Canada * Néville, in the Seine-Maritime department, France * Néville-sur-Mer, in the Manche department, France *Neville, Ohio, USA *Neville Township, Pen ...
, produced by David Johnson, and broadcast daily between 19 and 27 May 1975. An adaptation by John Constable as a single 90-minute drama for
BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC that replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. It broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history from the BBC' ...
, directed by Melanie Harris, was first broadcast on 18 March 1998. Music was by Paul Gargill, and the cast includes: *
Owen Teale Owen Teale (born 20 May 1961) is a Welsh character actor known for his role as Ser Alliser Thorne in the HBO fantasy TV series ''Game of Thrones''. Early life Owen Teale was born on 20 May 1961, in North Cornelly, south Wales, son of Roy and ...
- David Gore *
Cathy Tyson Catherine Tyson (born 12 June 1965) is an English actress. She won the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the film ''Mona Lisa'' (1986), which also earned her Best Supporting Actress no ...
- Mary Gore *
Sacha Dhawan Sacha Dhawan (; born 1 May 1984) is a British actor from Greater Manchester. He is best known for playing Akthar in the play '' The History Boys'' (2004–2006) and its film adaptation (2006), Paul Jatri in the BBC One comedy drama series '' Las ...
- Matthew Gore * Holly Grainger - Polly Gore *
Kathryn Hunt Kathryn Hunt is a British actress best known for her roles as Angela Harris in '' Coronation Street'' and Val Lorrimer in Series 1–2 of ''Fat Friends''. She also appeared in '' Waterloo Road'' and ''The Royal''. Kathryn also starred in the ...
- Chocky * John Lloyd Fillingham - Alan * John Branwell - Sir William Thorpe This version was released on CD by BBC Audiobooks in 2008, and has been repeated on
BBC Radio 7 BBC Radio 4 Extra (formerly BBC Radio 7) is a British Digital radio in the United Kingdom, digital radio broadcasting, radio station from the BBC, broadcasting archived repeats of comedy, drama and documentary programmes nationally, 24 hours a ...
and BBC Radio 4 Extra several times since November 2007.


Television series

The 1984 children's TV series ''Chocky'', ''Chocky's Children'' and ''Chocky's Challenge'', were based on the 1968 novel. They were written by
Anthony Read Anthony Read (21 April 1935 – 21 November 2015) was an English television producer, screenwriter, script editor and author. He was principally active in British television from the 1960s to the mid-1980s, which included a period as a script ...
and produced by
Thames Television Thames Television, commonly simplified to just Thames, was a franchise holder for a region of the British ITV television network serving London and surrounding areas from 30 July 1968 until the night of 31 December 1992. Thames Television broa ...
. The main character Matthew was played by Andrew Ellams and Glynis Brooks played the haunting voice of Chocky.
Revelation Films Revelation Films is a British film and television production and distribution company delivering visual entertainment via cinema, television and digital platforms. Tony Carne founded Revelation Films in 1992 as a video and television production ...
released the first series of ''Chocky'' on DVD on 22 March 2010. The 2nd series, ''Chocky's Children'', on 21 June 2010. The 3rd series, ''Chocky's Challenge'', was released on 23 August 2010


Proposed film

Steven Spielberg acquired film rights in September 2008, and said he was interested in directing.


References


External links


Little Gems
{{John Wyndham 1968 British novels 1968 science fiction novels British science fiction novels Novels by John Wyndham Children's science fiction novels British novels adapted into television shows British children's novels 1968 children's books Michael Joseph books