Smoking Scarecrow Scuppered in BBC Christmas Special Rewrite
Beloved children's author Julia Donaldson has disclosed that she was forced to make a significant change to one of her bestselling books to secure its adaptation as the BBC's flagship Christmas Day animation. This year, millions of families will watch The Scarecrows' Wedding, but the path to the screen was not straightforward.
The festive half-hour special, produced by Magic Light Pictures, features an all-star voice cast. Rob Brydon lends his voice to the cad Reginald Rake, while Jessie Buckley plays Betty O'Barley and Domhnall Gleeson is her beloved, Harry O'Hay. The narration is provided by Sophie Okonedo.
Why the Storyline Had to Change
In a surprising revelation, Donaldson explained that this marks the first time in 13 adaptations where substantial alterations were required. The original plot of The Scarecrows' Wedding, published in 2014, featured the villainous Reginald Rake smoking a cigar. This habit not only gave him a terrible cough but also led him to accidentally start a fire in a field.
Donaldson initially believed this was a strong narrative choice, stating, "I thought that was really good because it shows him in a really bad light... it shows how bad smoking is." However, she was informed that in the world of children's films, you are not allowed to show anyone smoking.
The author was initially resistant when producers from Magic Light Pictures raised the issue over lunch. "I said 'absolutely not'," she recalled. Yet, upon returning home, she went straight to her computer to find a solution. With the character designs already finalised, she devised a clever alternative. "I knew Betty had a pink dress and Reginald had the white suit, so I thought he could start the fire by cooking something and then I thought of pink and white marshmallows."
Donaldson admits she is "sorry in a way to lose the smoking" but concludes that "marshmallows do work well." It is important to note that all printed versions of the book will retain the original storyline with Reginald choking on his cigar.
A Festive Staple Returns to BBC One
The adaptation ensures that Rob Brydon will once again grace BBC One on Christmas Day, following his appearance in the Gavin & Stacey special last year. Brydon, a veteran voice actor for Donaldson's animated world, relished playing a different kind of role. "This is one of my favourites because I have not played this sort of role in Julia's world. I am normally nice," he commented, noting he channelled a hint of the classic cad Leslie Phillips for his performance.
The Christmas Day animation slot has become a ratings juggernaut for the BBC. Last year's offering, Tiddler, attracted an impressive 7.3 million viewers, achieving the highest audience share for a Magic Light film since The Gruffalo in 2009.
Looking further ahead, Donaldson confirmed that The Gruffalo will return in book form in the autumn of 2026, though she remained tight-lipped on any specific details about the new project.
The Scarecrows' Wedding will air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One this Christmas Day.
