Key Highlights
- Julia Donaldson had to rewrite a crucial scene in her book “The Scarecrows’ Wedding” for the BBC’s animated adaptation.
- The original story featured Reginald Rake smoking and accidentally starting a fire, which was deemed inappropriate for children’s films.
- In the rewritten version, Reginald starts a fire by cooking marshmallows instead of smoking.
- The animation will air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One this Christmas Day.
Julia Donaldson’s Rewriting Saga: A Christmas Tale Takes a Turn
For the upcoming Christmas Day, fans can look forward to yet another enchanting tale from author Julia Donaldson. However, the adaptation of “The Scarecrows’ Wedding” has taken an interesting twist due to changes made by the author herself.
A Fire That Couldn’t Burn
In a candid revelation, Donaldson disclosed that she had to rewrite one of her best-selling books for it to be turned into an animated special. The original story, which featured two devoted scarecrows Betty and Harry planning their wedding, included Reginald Rake smoking a cigar and accidentally starting a fire in the field.
“There had to be a fire in the story and the water was going to put out the fire, so I had to think of reasons for the fire,” Donaldson explained. “I’m A Celeb 2025 live: Tearful Kelly Brook sparks backlash as Alex Scott makes admission
The author initially thought that showing smoking would portray Reginald Rake in a negative light and effectively depict him as a ‘baddie.’ In the original book, Betty had even commented on how smoking is bad for you.
A Smoke-free Solution
However, it was pointed out to Donaldson that such scenes are not allowed in children’s films. Instead of eliminating the fire altogether, she decided to rework the scene to maintain the essence of her story while ensuring it met the standards set by the BBC.
“But apparently in the world of children’s films you are not allowed to show anyone smoking,” Donaldson said. “I personally think it would be better for children to come across smoking in a film or a book and then their parents can talk about it and say it is not a great thing, rather than see someone in a doorway.” Amazon’s Worst Nightmare: Clever Trick Causing Many to Cancel Prime in 2025
For the animated version, Reginald Rake starts a fire by cooking marshmallows instead of smoking. This change not only preserves the original storyline but also adds an element of whimsy that is characteristic of Donaldson’s work.
A Cast of Characters
The animation features an all-star voice cast, including Gavin and Stacey star Rob Brydon voicing Reginald Rake, Hamnet actress Jessie Buckley as Betty O’Barley, and The Paper star Domhnall Gleeson as Harry O’Hay. The story will be narrated by Slow Horses actress Sophie Okonedo.
Rob Brydon, who has been voicing Julia’s characters since the first animations, commented on his role in this special: “There is a hint of Leslie Phillips and that sort of thing, just natural and instinctive. As ever it is just a delight to be part of such a quality venture.” You May Like Neurologists Reveals: Dementia Has Been Linked to a Common Habit Do You It?
The Animation’s Journey
“The Scarecrows’ Wedding” was first published in 2014, and book versions still contain Reginald choking on a cigar. The animation is set to air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One this Christmas Day, promising to delight audiences once again.
The success of previous animations, such as Tiddler, which saw an audience of 7.3 million and the highest audience share on Christmas Day for a Magic Light Pictures film since The Gruffalo in 2009, bodes well for this year’s special.
Julia Donaldson remains tight-lipped about future projects but hinted that she finished writing one early last year and it is coming out in the Autumn next year. With her storytelling prowess and the quality of voice cast involved, fans can expect another delightful addition to the holiday lineup.
