Worzel Gummidge FIRST LOOK: Mackenzie Crook transforms into iconic talking scarecrow for BBC Christmas reboot
Fans have been given a first glimpse of Mackenzie Crook in character as walking, talking scarecrow Worzel Gummidge in a Christmas reboot of the BBC show.
A trailer for the show shows the former The Office star, 48, looking unrecognisable in the revival of the 70s TV favourite which famously had the late Jon Pertwee in the lead and Una Stubbs as Aunt Sally.
The clip opens with two children, John and Susan, arriving in the peaceful village of Scatterbrook.
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Here he is: Fans have been given a first glimpse of Mackenzie Crook in character as walking, talking scarecrow Worzel Gummidge in a Christmas reboot of the BBC show
New friend: A trailer for the show shows the former The Office star, 48, looking unrecognisable in the revival of the 70s TV favourite
They call out: ‘Mr Braithwaite? We’ve been sent from the foster home!;
Mr Braithwaite says: ‘They’re not going to be any help so they better not be any trouble.’
The children are then seen exploring the legendary Ten Acre Field where they first spot Worzel.
The mischievous character is seen turning to an unsuspecting John and uttering: ‘Oooarrr!’ as the shocked boy turns around.
Arrival: The clip opens with two children, John and Susan, arriving in the peaceful village of Scatterbrook
Show: They call out: ‘Mr Braithwaite? We’ve been sent from the foster home!; Mr Braithwaite says: ‘They’re not going to be any help so they better not be any trouble’
The kindly scarecrow then retrieves John’s iPhone from the field and returns it to his home.
A baffled John says: ‘That scarecrow came back here last night and brought back my phone.’
The children meet Worzel who finally introduces himself, and adds: ‘Welcome to Scatterbrook.’
A voiceover is heard saying: ‘Talking to humans is not allowed and that’s the way it’s always been.’
Over there! The children are then seen exploring the legendary Ten Acre Field where they first spot Worzel
Find: The kindly scarecrow then retrieves John’s iPhone from the field and returns it to his home
Friend: The children meet Worzel who finally introduces himself, and adds: ‘Welcome to Scatterbrook’
Oh dear: A voiceover is heard saying: ‘Talking to humans is not allowed and that’s the way it’s always been’
Mackenzie writes, directs and stars in the revival, which is the modern adaptation of the classic books of Barbara Euphan Todd and comes to BBC One in two hour long films.
Mackenzie Crook said: ‘I’m thrilled to be back working with the BBC and many members of the Detectorists team to bring Worzel Gummidge to a new generation of viewers and reintroduce him to old friends.
‘Adapting Barbara Euphan Todd’s books into these two films has been a joy and I’ve completely fallen for her charming, irreverent scarecrow.
‘Fingers crossed for a glorious English summer as we head out to Scatterbrook Farm and Worzel’s Ten Acre Field.’
Anyone seen Aunt Sally? The late Jon Pertwee famously played the lead in the 70s
Michael Palin, Zoe Wanamaker, Steve Pemberton also star, with Vicki Pepperdine taking on the role of Aunt Sally.
Worzel Gummidge became a cult classic following its launch in 1979, with 31 episodes spread across a two year run before it went off air in December 1981.
The show, starring Pertwee as Gummidge, Una Stubbs as Aunt Sally and Lorraine Chase as Dolly Clothes-Peg, would enjoy a brief revival in 1987 for the New Zealand based Worzel Gummidge Down Under.
Aired on Channel 4, the revival charted Gummidge’s adventures on the other side of the world after his beloved Aunt Sally – a walking, talking fairground doll – is sold to a museum owner.
New role: Mackenzie will take the role made famous by the late Jon after drafting a script inspired by the hugely popular show about a lovable scarecrow with interchangeable heads
Gummidge made his first TV appearance in BBC series Worzel Gummidge Turns Detective in 1953, with Frank Atkinson taking the titular role some 26-years before Pertwee launched him into public consciousness.
Mackenzie made a name for himself as Gareth Keenan in Ricky Gervais’ classic sitcom The Office before making the transition to film and a recurring role in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
He has also featured in popular TV shows Skins, Merlin and Game Of Thrones.
His last TV appearance came in Amazon Prime’s epic historical drama Britannia, in which he plays a druid.
The first of two specials – The Scarecrow of Scatterbrook – will air on BBC One on Boxing Day at 6.20pm.
The Green Man then airs on December 27 at 7pm
Favourite: The show, starring Pertwee as Gummidge and Una Stubbs as Aunt Sally (pictured), enjoyed a brief revival in 1987 for the New Zealand based Worzel Gummidge Down Under
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