Some books will always have a special place, and Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five series is one of those books. Revolving around a group of 4 children and a dog, this mystery and adventure series still stands as one of the best-selling children’s books of all time.
BBC has decided to turn this children’s classic into a mini-series filled with exciting twists and suspense. The storyline of this BBC shows The Famous Five revolves around George, Julian, Dick, Anne, and their smart dog, Timmy.
After facing a series of puzzling events, the 5 friends decide to take matters into their own hands and start solving the mysteries of the town they live in. Facing scary people and dealing with dangerous situations, these friends will do anything to solve the mystery that’s in front of them.
The cast of BBC’s The Famous Five consists of Diaana Babnicova in the role of George, Elliot Rose as Julian, Kit Rakusen plays Dick, Flora Jacoby Richardson plays Anne, and Jack Gleeson plays Wentworth, a Moriarty-like character. With only three 90-minute episodes ordered for the show, BBC is doing its best to make the show live up to the legacy of the Enid Blyton books.
The Famous Five 2023: All Filming Locations
This UK- and Germany-based BBC show was filmed in the southwestern regions of England. Shooting for the Famous Five began in June this year, and by the last few months of 2023, the filming was already complete. Major areas that were involved in filming for this children’s series would be Herefordshire and Cornwall.
Although the books are set in an entirely different place, the filming for some of the episodes of The Famous Five took place in Cornwall, a county in Southwest England. Known for its highly developed fishing and farming capabilities, Cornwall is a great place to live for people wanting to get their work-life balance in check.
With vibrant communities, scenic landscapes, and great festivities all around the place, Cornwall is a go-to filming spot for movies and films wanting to showcase a historic yet modern town surrounded by picturesque mountains and seas.
To the north of Cornwall lies a small yet cozy fishing village called Port Isaac, and this is where the BBC crew had filmed some of the scenes from The Famous Five’s episodes. Although the small village doesn’t have a lot of facilities, it has now become a well-known filming spot thanks to the various movies that have included this village as one of their filming spots.
Shows like Doc Martin, Fisherman’s Friends, and Saving Grace were all shot right here in Port Isaac. Another place that made it to The Famous Five would be Wales, a place that is known for its rugged coastlines, stunning national parks, and warm beaches. The visual appeal of the place was the reason why it almost always turns into a filming location for a local movie or TV show.
Doctor Who, The Crown, Mad Max, and The Morning Show are just a handful of examples of productions that have taken place in Wales. Some of the interior shots in this BBC mystery series were filmed in South Wales studios to recreate the perfect set and add the final details after all of the scenes were filmed.
Herefordshire is another English county that the BBC crew chose for this mystery series. Located in the West region, this county is sandwiched between Worcestershire and Brecon Beacons.
This is a place that’s filled with tranquility and historical places like Goodrich Castle, Berrington Hall, and Croft Castle. The Eastnor Castle is one of the most visited tourist spots in Herefordshire and was chosen to be a filming spot for The Famous Five.
This mock castle was built back in the 19th century and has a gloomy yet intricate architecture. This is the reason why Eastnor Castle has made it into supernatural or horror-themed productions like The Canterville Ghost, Dracula (2006), and Lost Hearts.
Another historic landmark that was a filming spot was the Tyntesfield House located in Wraxall, North Somerset. With Gothic revival architecture and beautiful gardens, Tyntesfield is a popular area for tourists to visit all around the year.
The Mansion House, located in Cardiff, was also used to film some of the scenes from The Famous Five. Situated near Richmond Road, this used to be a residence of the Lord Mayor and was built back in 1890. Corfe Castle was filmed at the Gloucester Cathedral located at 12 College Grn in Gloucester.
Most of The Famous Five revolves around places like Kirrin Bay, the Corfe Castle, and the Isle of Purbeck. These are sadly just fictional places inspired by real locations like Lulworth Bay or various other ports around England.
The Famous Five is now available to watch on Prime Video, ITVX, or BBC iPlayer.
