The Famous Five 

Based on the best selling books by popular children's author Enid Blyton; when Julian, Dick and Anne are sent to live with their Aunt and uncle in the English countryside they clash with ... See full summary »

Stars:

Jemima Rooper, Marco Williamson, Paul Child

Cast

Series cast summary:
Jemima Rooper	...	George 26 episodes, 1995-1997
Marco Williamson	...	Julian 26 episodes, 1995-1997
Paul Child	...	Dick 26 episodes, 1995-1997
Laura Petela	...	Anne 26 episodes, 1995-1997
Connal	...	Timmy 26 episodes, 1995-1997
Elsie Kelly	...	Joan 25 episodes, 1995-1997
Christopher Good	...	Quentin 18 episodes, 1995-1997
Mary Waterhouse	...	Frances 16 episodes, 1995-1997

Storyline

Based on the best selling books by popular children's author Enid Blyton; when Julian, Dick and Anne are sent to live with their Aunt and uncle in the English countryside they clash with their rebellious cousin Georgina who likes to be known as George. However, it's not long before strange goings on in their local area have them putting their differences aside and teaming up to stop a famous drug smuggling ring. Queue the beginnings of lots of mystery solving for the famous five which also includes the lovable dog Timmy.

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Plot Keywords:

dog | children | based on book | number in title | 

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Genres:

Family

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Details

Country:

UK Canada Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 September 1995 (UK)

Also Known As:

De vijf

Filming Locations:

Bath, Somerset, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Portman Productions, Zenith North Ltd., Framestore

Technical Specs

Runtime:

25 min (26 episodes)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of Fünf Freunde (2012)

User Reviews

A sort of reverse spoof of Comic Strip's Five Go Mad

This 90's series is on the whole very well done, although it's so fast paced as to be almost absurd, in order to fit the programme into a 25 minute slot. Within seconds of arriving at wherever it's supposed to be, the kids and Timmy have found secret passages/treasure/spies.

Some of the story lines become absurd in the way the bad guys behave, for instance, in one episode they simply allow the kids to wander about their grounds without giving them a good hiding, or tying them up.

As an adult watching this, it's impossible not to think of the Comic Strip spoof on the Famous Five, and it's almost like this 90's series, made a long time *after* the spoof is trying reverse spoof the spoof, if that makes sense. You half expect the baddies to say "blah blah blah", and they nearly do. When Timmy falls ill, you've an expectation that Julian will say, "Don't worry we'll get another." The difference between this version and the 70's one is this doesn't try to be contemporary, rather it goes for the nostalgia of the late 40's, early 50's, and so you can't throw a cry of "unrealistic dialogue" at it. One thing that drama producers in the 90's and beyond have got licked is getting young people to act, especially good is George, played by Jemima Rooper, who at 15 was considerably older than her portrayed character - if she looks familiar, it's because she was Bobby in a remake of the Railway Children.