Watership Down’s true meaning? It’s just a bunny story

FANS of Watership Down who think the book has a “true message” are wrong – it’s “just a story about rabbits”, the author’s daughters have confirmed.

The bestselling novel by Richard Adams was famously adapted into a film in 1978 and is returning to the small screen over Christmas.

Adams died, aged 96, in 2016 and his daughters Juliet, 60, and Rosamond, 58, who encouraged their father to write when they were children, look after his legacy.

Rosamond told Radio Times: “Over the years the family has seen off theory after theory about the ‘true message’ of Watership Down.

“Honestly, the stuff we got through the post from fans about what they think the book is about, like ‘Is [rabbit] Hazel, Jesus Christ?’. It shows people really connect with the story, they really think hard about it, but it cut no ice with Dad. ‘Rubbish’, he always said. ‘It’s just a story about rabbits’.”

“Daddy always said rabbits in Watership Down don’t do anything real rabbits wouldn’t be able to do,” Rosamond added, but “the book clearly says that rabbits don’t have romantic relationships”.

The new BBC two-part adaptation of the book features actors James McAvoy, John Boyega, Gemma Arterton, Olivia Colman and Nicholas Hoult among the voice cast.

Hoult, who is the voice of rabbit Fiver said he “defies anyone” not to cry when they watch it. “I remember me and [director] Noam [Murro] both crying when we were doing the last scene,” he said.

“We were both hugging as we were crying. I did the take probably 450 times and I cried every single time. I defy anyone not to cry.”

Watership Down will air as two feature-length episodes on BBC One on December 22 and December 23.