''The Famous Five'' is a British television series based on the children's book series of the same name by

Enid Blyton Enid Mary Blyton (11 August 1897 – 28 November 1968) was an English children's writer, whose books have been worldwide bestsellers since the 1930s, selling more than 600 million copies. Her books are still enormously popular and have been tra ...

. It was first broadcast on Tyne Tees and

Harlech Television ITV Wales and West, previously known as Harlech Television (HTV), was an ITV franchisee in the United Kingdom until 31 December 2013, licensed to broadcast by the regulator Ofcom. There is no channel, past or present, named "ITV Wales and Wes ...

(HTV) from 10 September 1995 onwards, and on

CITV CITV is a British children's morning programming block on ITV2 and formerly a free-to-air channel owned by ITV plc. CITV, then Children's ITV, launched on 3 January 1983 as a late afternoon programming block on the ITV network for children aged ...

(the children's strand of ITV) from 1 July 1996 onwards; there were two series between 1995 and 1997, produced by Zenith North and Tyne Tees in 26 twenty-five-minute episodes. The 1995 series was released in its entirety on VHS video. A three-disc DVD collection, containing 13 of the 26 episodes of the 1995 series, was released in Australia and New Zealand in 2005, and is marked "Revised Edition" to avoid confusion with the previous release of the 1979 series with 1995 artwork. A complete edition of the series was released on DVD in Australia and New Zealand in 2016. Other episodes have reportedly been released on DVD in Europe, but only the adaptation of ''Five on a Treasure Island'' was released on DVD in the UK. The series has been made available on streaming platforms outside the U.K., in some cases only in a dubbed form, such as by German co-producer

ZDF ZDF (), short for (; ), is a German public-service television broadcaster based in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate. Launched on 1 April 1963, it is run as an independent nonprofit institution, and was founded by all federal states of Germany ( ...

, which also has the original English version in its studio library that it has made available in Italy through its streaming channel ''Pash''. Locations featured in the series included

Corfe Castle Corfe Castle is a fortification standing above the Corfe Castle (village), village of the same name on the Isle of Purbeck peninsula in the English county of Dorset. Built by William the Conqueror, the castle dates to the 11th century and ...

, Lower House Farm in Bossington in Somerset,

Woodchester Mansion Woodchester Mansion is an unfinished, Gothic revival mansion house in Nympsfield, Gloucestershire, England. It is on the site of an earlier house known as Spring Park. The mansion is a Grade I listed building. The mansion was abandoned by its ...

Dunster Castle Dunster Castle is a former motte and bailey castle, now a English country house, country house, in the village of Dunster, Somerset, England. The castle lies on the top of a steep hill called the Tor, and has been fortified since the late Anglo ...

, Cheddar Caves and

Alnwick Castle Alnwick Castle () is a castle and country house in Alnwick in the English county of Northumberland. It is the seat of the Ralph Percy, 12th Duke of Northumberland, 12th Duke of Northumberland, built following the Norman Conquest and renovated an ...

. The series was featured in the ''Enid Blyton Society Journal'' published by the

Enid Blyton Society The Enid Blyton Society was formed in 1995 by collectors of Enid Blyton's work Norman Wright, Tony Summerfield and Michael Rouse. It was originally named the Enid Blyton Literary Society, to distinguish it from other organisations with similar aims, ...

in an article by its editor in 1996 and written contributions by actresses Jemima Rooper and Laura Petela in 1997.

Cast

Jemima Rooper Jemima Rooper (born 24 October 1981) is an English actress. Having started as a child actress in television series, she has appeared in numerous film and theatre roles. Early life Born in Hammersmith, London, Rooper is the daughter of TV journ ...

as George * Marco Williamson as Julian * Paul Child as Dick * Laura O'Bree (née Laura Petela) as Anne *

Elsie Kelly Elsie Kelly (born 7 June 1936) is an English actress. With a career spanning five decades, she has appeared in various television shows including '' Crossroads'', '' The Famous Five'' and '' Harry and the Wrinklies'', before taking on her best k ...

as Joan * Christopher Good as Uncle Quentin * Mary Waterhouse as Aunt Frances

Episodes

First series

The first series was shown on HTV and Tyne Tees.BFI.org
BFI Film & TV Database, incomplete listing that lists airings both on Tyne Tees and ITV #

Five on a Treasure Island ''Five on a Treasure Island'' (published in 1942) is a popular children's book by Enid Blyton. It is the first book in The Famous Five (novel series), ''The Famous Five'' series. The first edition of the book was illustrated by Eileen Soper. ...

(part 1) (10 September 1995) #Five on a Treasure Island (part 2) (17 September 1995) #

Five Get into Trouble ''Five Get into Trouble'' is the eighth novel in The Famous Five series by Enid Blyton Enid Mary Blyton (11 August 1897 – 28 November 1968) was an English children's writer, whose books have been worldwide bestsellers since the 1930s, s ...

(24 September 1995) #

Five Go Adventuring Again ''Five Go Adventuring Again'' (published in 1943) is the second book in the Famous Five series by British author Enid Blyton. Plot Julian, Dick, and Anne's mother is ill with scarlet fever Scarlet fever, also known as scarlatina, is a ...

(1 October 1995) #

Five Fall into Adventure ''Five Fall Into Adventure'' is the ninth novel in The Famous Five series by Enid Blyton Enid Mary Blyton (11 August 1897 – 28 November 1968) was an English children's writer, whose books have been worldwide bestsellers since the 1930s ...

(8 October 1995) #

Five Go to Demon's Rocks ''Five Go to Demon's Rocks'' is the nineteenth novel in ''The Famous Five'' series by Enid Blyton. It was first published in 1961. Plot Irascible scientist Quentin Kirrin informs his wife, Fanny, that his colleague, Professor Hayling, will ...

(15 October 1995) #

Five on Kirrin Island Again ''Five On Kirrin Island Again'' is the sixth novel in the Famous Five series by Enid Blyton Enid Mary Blyton (11 August 1897 – 28 November 1968) was an English children's writer, whose books have been worldwide bestsellers since the 19 ...

(22 October 1995) #

Five on Finniston Farm ''Five on Finniston Farm'' is the eighteenth novel in the Famous Five series by Enid Blyton. It was first published in 1960. Plot The Famous Five spend their summer holidays at Finniston Farm as paying guests. Upon arrival, they are greet ...

(29 October 1995) #

Five Go Off to Camp ''Five Go Off To Camp'' is the seventh novel in the Famous Five children's adventure series by Enid Blyton. It was first published in 1948, and was followed by a number of reprints and translations. The story revolves around mysterious "spook ...

(5 November 1995) #

Five Have Plenty of Fun ''Five Have Plenty Of Fun'' is the 14th novel in ''The Famous Five'' series by Enid Blyton Enid Mary Blyton (11 August 1897 – 28 November 1968) was an English children's writer, whose books have been worldwide bestsellers since the 19 ...

(12 November 1995) #

Five on a Secret Trail ''Five on a Secret Trail'' is the fifteenth novel in the Famous Five series by Enid Blyton Enid Mary Blyton (11 August 1897 – 28 November 1968) was an English children's writer, whose books have been worldwide bestsellers since the 19 ...

(19 November 1995) # Five Go to Smuggler's Top (part 1) (26 November 1995) #Five Go to Smuggler's Top (part 2) (3 December 1995)

Second series

The second series was initially shown on HTV. #

Five Go Down to the Sea ''Five Go Down To The Sea'' is the twelfth novel in The Famous Five (novel series), The Famous Five series by Enid Blyton. It was first published in 1953. Plot Siblings Julian, Dick and Anne Kirrin, their cousin Georgina 'George' and her dog ...

(part 1) (10 November 1996) #Five Go Down to the Sea (part 2) (17 November 1996) # Five Run Away Together (24 November 1996) # Five Have a Mystery to Solve (1 December 1996) #

Five Go to Mystery Moor ''Five Go to Mystery Moor'' (published in 1954) is a popular children's book written by Enid Blyton. It is the thirteenth novel in the '' Famous Five'' series of books. Plot George and her cousin Anne are spending their holiday at Captain ...

(8 December 1996) # Five (Go) On a Hike Together (15 December 1996) #

Five Have a Wonderful Time ''Five Have A Wonderful Time'' (published in 1952) is a popular children's book written by Enid Blyton. It is the eleventh novel in the Famous Five series of books. Plot George has caught a cold due to bathing in the sea in April and, as su ...

(part 1) (5 January 1997) #Five Have a Wonderful Time (part 2) (12 January 1997) # Five Go Off in a Caravan (19 January 1997) #

Five Get into a Fix Five Get into a Fix is a children's novel written by Enid Blyton and published by Hodder and Stoughton in 1958. It is the seventeenth book in the Famous Five series. Story Siblings Julian, Dick and Anne are at home with their cousin George a ...

(26 January 1997) # Five Are Together Again (2 February 1997) #

Five Go to Billycock Hill ''Five Go to Billycock Hill'' is the sixteenth novel in the ''Famous Five'' series by Enid Blyton. It was first published in 1957. Plot The Five are camping on Billycock Hill, near the farm of Toby, a boy who loves jokes and pranks. When Tob ...

(part 1) (9 February 1997) #Five Go to Billycock Hill (part 2) (16 February 1997)

References

External links

BFI.org
(British Film Institute (BFI) listing)
Epguides.com Famous Five subsite
(note: refers to the second airing on ITV) *
Interview with Jemima Rooper
{{DEFAULTSORT:Famous Five, The 1995 British television series debuts 1997 British television series endings 1990s British children's television series 1990s British mystery television series Adaptations of works by Enid Blyton British children's adventure television series British television shows based on children's books British English-language television shows ITV children's television shows Television series by ITV Studios Television shows produced by Harlech Television Television shows produced by Tyne Tees Television