The Enid Blyton Society

Did anyone else see the item on The One Show tonight about the 75th anniversary of the writing of Five on a Treasure Island? It was well done - with Gary, Marcus and Jennifer being interviewed in a picturesque place having a typical Fives picnic? Dawn French was a guest as well and they mentioned "Five go mad in Dorset" too. I missed the name of the gentleman who set the scene as he was being interviewed in a train - on the way to Dorset, one assumes!

I just caught up on it on iplayer - very good article, and good to see Julian, Dick and Anne again! I saw the two lads at an EB Day but unfortunately didn't attend the one where 'Anne' also came. It was good to hear some positive talk about Enid Blyton - although the 'lashings of ginger beer' misquote was quoted again...or rather #lashings of hot coffee'!

Thank you for posting about this programme, Daisy. I shall catch up with it on the I player tomorrow.

Thanks for letting us know, Daisy. I remember Gary telling us about this being filmed. I've just watched the clip on iPlayer and enjoyed it. It was lovely to hear Marcus saying that for him, Gary, Jenny and Michele, being together to film the 1970s Famous Five series "was just like being a family".

The man on the train was Nicholas Tucker, Daisy. He edited the 1997 book Enid Blyton: A Celebration and Reappraisal, which contains the scripts of talks on Enid Blyton given by people like Imogen Smallwood, Sheila Ray, Helen Cresswell and Anne Fine.

I don't think Jennifer Thanisch (Anne) ever came to an Enid Blyton Day, Rob, though Julie Davis (who played Ragamuffin Jo) and Gail Renard (one of the scriptwriters for the TV series) attended with Gary and Marcus.

Anita Bensoussane wrote:I don't think Jennifer Thanisch (Anne) ever came to an Enid Blyton Day, Rob, though Julie Davis (who played Ragamuffin Jo) and Gail Renard (one of the scriptwriters for the TV series) attended with Gary and Marcus.

Thanks Anita - yes - my mistake. I wasn't at the Day when Julie Davis and Gail Renard attended either, so that's why I got confused!

Thanks so much for telling us about this, Daisy. We rarely watch The One Show, but I have just watched it on the BBC iPlayer - UK viewers click on the link - it comes in just after 12 minutes of the programme. Great to see "Anne" - who didn't pursue a career in acting - Although having a Yahoo Group dedicated to her. Lovely to see Marcus and Garry again - and the Swanage Railway! Now there's an idea for a Blyton Gathering - A Day in Corfe Castle!

Moonraker wrote: and the Swanage Railway! Now there's an idea for a Blyton Gathering - A Day in Corfe Castle!

I wish Blyton was associated with somewhere nearer to where I live!!!

Thank you for the link Nigel.My wife told me it had been on and said I would have enjoyed it - I did ask her why she didn't tell me while it was on!

I watched it last night on the i-player. Good to see Swanage railway & Brownsea island feature, as well as three of the former cast of the 70's series. Personally, I wish a bit more was said regarding Michele's contribution & not just that she'd passed away some years ago!

Corfe Castle would be ideal for a meet up...on Viv's doorstep!

I've just seen it on hubby's phone I guess it was on catch up. It was very good. Gary has changed since I had my phone with him. And Marcus has a small beard.

Lovely to see them all together again though! I wonder when they filmed it, as we go to Corfe often, and I've not seen them there!

I thought Gary looked a bit different too, Julie!

I can probably tell you when it was filmed if I work backwards in my diary, Julie, as I was asked by The One Show to be in it about three weeks before the actual filming. I turned it down as it looked as if I was expected to find my way down there and I suggested Norman Wright to them as he lives in the area. The producer asked me to get in touch with Norman Wright and get back to him, but I had to tell him that Norman wasn't available. I don't know if Nicholas Tucker realised he was third choice but I was glad it wasn't me as I don't think I would have got to Brownsea which was what was stated when I was initially asked. The producer promised he would let me know when it was being screened so that I could let everyone know - he didn't!!

14th June. It was very hot. I got badly sunburned on Brownsea. I hadn't ridden a bike since 1980. I never plan to ride one again. I got lost driving home. Sat navs and roadsigns in Dorset tell you very different things, neither of which helped. The pub in Corfe that we had lunch in was very nice. I got more sunburned sitting in their garden too. Parking was a bloody nightmare. I remembered why I don't like boats and ferries. The poeple who run Brownsea Island are lovely. The people who run Corfe Castle were significantly less so.

Really enjoyed that little segment — thanks, Daisy, for letting us know, and Gary and Tony for the extra info.

It was very interesting and well put together - even though you did have to suffer for your art, Gary!