Re-reading childhood favourites...

[lizbee]

I have just finished re-reading The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, and I've just begun Black Hearts in Battersea. As I re-read Aiken's Hanover novels, I find myself with just one question:

How is it possible that the BBC hasn't made a series of family-friendly TV movies based on these novels? HOW, I ASK YOU? Starring Daniel Radcliffe as Simon and Billie Piper* as Dido Twite, with cameos by every actor in England as various other characters.

Admit it. Now you're wondering the same thing. MATT SMITH CAN PLAY DOCTOR FIELD. ADMIT IT, THIS IS THE BEST IDEA I'VE EVER HAD!

* Well, yes. Who else?

Comments

[marymac.livejournal.com]

This is painfully true. *has not watched The Ruby in the Smoke due to flail about inappropriateness of casting in general*

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

It's not that Billie's bad in "Ruby", it's more that somehow the scripts for that and Mansfield Park got mixed up, so her Sally was demure and quiet, and her Fanny was romping and outspoken.

[marymac.livejournal.com]

The promos gave me a severe case of 'Oh God, my childhood' and I studied Mansfield bloody Park for A-Level so I was never, ever, even-at-gunpoint going to watch it. I think I did wisely, by that description.

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

The best thing you can say about Mansfield Park is that Michelle Ryan is quite good as Maria, and holds her own in the pout-off, even with Billie and Hayley Atwell as the competition.

[marymac.livejournal.com]

In fairness to them all, they really hadn't a lot to work with. A more one-dimensional pack of women Austen never wrote.

Sadly, CCEA decreed it was Mansfield Park or Tess of the D'Urberville's that year, so we actually got off lightly. For values of lightly that include your friend drawing detailed gravestones for every single character and herself while getting an ever more manic look.