CBBC commissions Malory Towers live action series

BBC children’s channel CBBC has commissioned a live action adaptation of Enid Blyton’s classic boarding school series, Malory Towers. 

The show is being produced by DHX Media and www.thebookseller.com/news/hcg-revamps-blyton-s-malory-towers-series-899566">King Bert Productions, which acquired the TV adaptation rights from Hachette Children's Group, and will air in 2020.

Cheryl Taylor, head of content for BBC Children’s, said: “Malory Towers set the template for popular British boarding school stories and we’re delighted to bring this classic title to CBBC. Darrell Rivers is a truly iconic character – sparky, independent and a fierce warrior against injustice. She shone a bright light on the potential of all girls at a time when expectations were very limited. The books have inspired generations of young readers and we can’t wait for our audience to meet Darrell and her friends.”

Production begins in Canada this month and will move to the UK later this year.

Hachette Children’s Group owns the publishing rights to Malory Towers after acquiring Blyton’s backlist, excluding Noddy, and this year published a new addition to the series with stories by Narinder Dhami, Patrice Lawrence, Lucy Mangan and Rebecca Westcott. 

Malory Towers is one of Blyton’s most successful series and the first book, First Term at Malory Towers, was published in 1946. It follows protagonist, Darrell Rivers on her adventures and experiences in boarding school, along with her friends Sally, Alicia and Betty.