BBC confirms nationwide casting search for new Adrian Mole series – with beloved author revealed to be penning adaptation

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After rumors circulated, the BBC has officially announced it’s creating a new TV series based on Sue Townsend’s popular novel, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾. The show will consist of ten half-hour episodes.

While the actors haven’t been announced yet, the show is now searching across the country for a young actor to play the main character, Adrian. Robert Sterne, the acclaimed casting director known for his work on The Crown, is heading up the search.

The series boasts a fantastic writing team, led by David Nicholls, the author of ‘One Day’. Other writers contributing to the episodes include Caitlin and Caroline Moran, known for ‘Raised by Wolves’, Dillon Mapletoft and Oliver Taylor (‘Everyone Else Burns’), and Jack Rooke (‘Big Boys’).

Nicholls shared that he’s slightly older than the character Adrian and has loved the book since it was first published. He described it as a timelessly funny and remarkably insightful work by Sue Townsend – noting her uncanny ability to capture real life. He said he’s thoroughly enjoying the process of adapting the story for television.

The new series, produced by Big Talk Studios, follows Adrian as he begins a humorous diary on New Year’s Day, 1981. It’s a funny look at family and teenage life before the days of cell phones and social media.

Adrian, armed with just a rainbow-colored pen, finds himself preoccupied with a lot: his acne, his parents splitting up, the pain of his first crush, and a surprisingly persistent question about something he’s never seen – a woman’s nipple.

Adrian’s mother, Pauline, is beginning to explore feminist ideas, while his father, George, is dealing with the stress of losing his job in a tough economic climate. Adrian’s life is also filled with interesting people, including his sweetheart Pandora, his strong-willed grandmother, and his surprising friend, the outspoken elderly man Bert Baxter.

This compelling look at British suburban life explores how things have both changed and remained constant. It’s a classic family story that’s both heartwarming and humorous, yet also deeply touching and bittersweet.

Lindsay Salt, head of BBC Drama, shared: “The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole is a truly special story that has charmed readers for decades. David Nicholls has perfectly captured the humor, heart, and subtle emotional depth of Sue Townsend’s classic book, showing us why Adrian’s perspective still feels so fresh and relatable today, just as it did in the 1980s.”

Even though times have changed, the relatable worries, dreams, and funny, embarrassing moments in Adrian Mole’s life still feel relevant today. The team at Big Talk, along with David, have assembled a talented group of writers who have created a series that stays true to the original while also making it appealing to a new generation of viewers.

Alex Winckler, known for directing ‘Somewhere Boy’, is directing the series. Charlotte Robinson, who produced ‘A Thousand Blows’, is the producer.

This story was first turned into a TV series for ITV in 1985, featuring Gian Sammarco, Stephen Moore, Julie Walters, and Beryl Reid.

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2025-11-17 21:10