It’s all starting to go haywire
BBC1, 6.20pm
IT’S Mackenzie Crook as you’ve never seen him before, transformed into notorious scarecrow Worzel Gummidge for this two-part telly treat that families will love.
The star of The Office and Pirates of the Caribbean wrote, directed and stars in this modern adaptation of the story that started as a book and went on to star Jon Pertwee on ITV in 1979.
Mackenzie, who spent three hours in make-up every day for the part, has taken the original tale of Scatterbrook Farm and its characters and modernised it with an adventurous tale which has a strong environmental message.
And it has a stellar cast including Michael Palin as The Green Man, creator of the scarecrows, Zoe Wanamaker as an eccentric local aristocrat, Vicki Pepperdine as the formidable Aunt Sally and Steve Pemberton and Rosie Cavaliero as farmers Mr and Mrs Braithwaite.
Tonight’s first episode sees two city foster kids Susan (India Brown) and John (Thierry Wickens) arriving to spend the summer at Scatterbrook Farm. They’re not happy about being in the middle of nowhere – the Braithwaites don’t even have wi-fi. Imagine that.
But while wandering through 10 Acre Field, a creepy looking scarecrow introduces himself and everything spins into action.
Worzel is worried about the weather – the crops are late, the birds won’t fly the nest, something is wrong and it’s up to them to do something.
Expect magic, mayhem and plenty of laughs as Worzel and the kids work to solve the mystery. Tune in tomorrow night for a second glorious instalment.