BBC Alters Classic Children's Story Over Smoking Depiction
The BBC's highly anticipated Christmas adaptation of Julia Donaldson's beloved children's book The Scarecrows' Wedding has undergone significant changes after concerns were raised about its depiction of smoking. The original story features villain Reginald Rake lighting a cigar, but this has been replaced with a scene where he toasts marshmallows instead.
Author's Disappointment and Regulatory Constraints
Author Julia Donaldson has expressed her disappointment with the alterations, revealing that production company Magic Light Pictures informed her that Ofcom rules prohibit smoking in children's programming without strong editorial justification. The regulator's code specifically bans material that 'condones, encourages or glamorises' smoking, along with illegal drugs and alcohol.
Speaking at an early screening of the adaptation, Donaldson defended her original text: 'In the book, the fire is started by Reginald Rake through smoking. And I thought that was really good – it shows Reginald Rake in a really bad light because he's a baddie.' She emphasised that her story actually portrays smoking negatively, with character Betty O'Barley explicitly stating 'Smoking is bad for you!' and the villain suffering consequences including a terrible cough and accidentally starting a fire.
From Cigars to Marshmallows: The Scene Transformation
The controversial scene has been completely reimagined for television. In Donaldson's original book, Reginald Rake boasts: 'I can even blow smoke rings - just watch me and see!' before producing a cigar. The new adaptation, voiced by Rob Brydon, features entirely different lines: 'If you don't fancy dancing then let's have a feast / I'm an excellent chef, I have three stars at least.'
Instead of a cigar, Reginald now produces pink and white marshmallows from the farmer's pocket. The story maintains the same plot development where his attempts to light a fire – whether for smoking or toasting marshmallows – result in the wheat field catching fire.
Donaldson described her creative process in adapting the scene: 'I thought they could start the fire by cooking something. Then I thought, marshmallows are pink and white. So I wrote something. And I think it works really well like that. I'm sorry, in a way, to lose the smoking but marshmallows do well.'
Industry Reaction and Historical Context
The book's illustrator, Axel Scheffler, reacted to the changes with humour, joking: 'I'm now waiting on Boxing Day for thousands and thousands of children in the UK starting fires by roasting marshmallows.'
This isn't the first time the smoking scene has caused controversy. Following the book's publication in 2014, some parents complained on platforms like Mumsnet, with one mother reporting: 'Now my three-year-old is asking for Cigars.' The publisher, Scholastic, defended the original content at the time, stating that the book shows smoking in a completely negative light.
This year marks the 13th adaptation of Donaldson's books for BBC One's Christmas Day schedule, establishing them as a festive tradition for British families. Despite the changes, the core message about responsibility and consequences remains intact, though the method of delivering that message has sparked broader conversations about content regulation in children's media.
