[Yan:] Unfortunately, I could not join but I'm very curious to know what Marcus and Gary told about the 78 TV series.
Both Marcus and Gary said that they were already fans of the Famous Five books before the TV series was made. Gary recalled telling his agent that he "really really" wanted a part in the series. He was considered for the character of Julian at first, but eventually got to play Dick of course. At his audition he was asked if he could ride a horse and, although he'd never been on a horse in his life, he said yes. As soon as he found out that he was to be Dick, and that the first story to be filmed would be "Five Go to Mystery Moor," he hurriedly booked some riding lessons!
Marcus told us how he chased after one of the producers after his audition, asking what exactly one had to do to get noticed. Should he perhaps have fooled around like one or two of the other "hopefuls" had? Speaking out like that obviously did get him noticed, as he was chosen to be Julian!
Marcus repeated the story of the dream that he had of a schoolroom with desks set out in rows, and a clock on the wall. In the dream he learnt that he had got the part of Julian. Soon after that, his class at school had to set out desks in rows in the hall for an examination. Marcus looked up at the clock on the wall and, in great excitement, realised that this was exactly like his dream. He raced home and met his agent in the drive, who told him that he was to be Julian!
Gary remarked that it is now exactly thirty years since the filming of the series began, in 1977. He and Marcus have both been back to Exbury since, and Marcus said that he showed his children round the area, exclaiming excitedly, "Look – this is where daddy filmed the Famous Five!"
They said that they had two chaperones named Joan while filming the series, although in the article he once wrote for the
Enid Blyton Society Journal Gary mentions a Joan and a Jean. They quipped that some fans of the TV series know more than they do, and asked if anyone could name the cook they had when they stayed at Gatewood while filming the second series. Was it Olive, perhaps, or was that the name of yet another chaperone? They didn't seem too sure!
Sometimes tempers became frayed and the cook once threw a potato at one of the chaperones! Another time, Michele picked up a dish of spaghetti bolognese (or something like that) and threw it over Marcus, leaving Gary feeling very put out as he'd been looking forward to eating it!
Gatewood, a farmhouse, doubled up as Kirrin Cottage for some close-up shots of windows etc, to save travelling back and forth between Gatewood and Blackwater House. There was a lot of mixing and matching of various exteriors and interiors throughout the series.
Well, I hope I've remembered things correctly. If I haven't, Gary or anyone else who was at the Day can always put me right! It was a very entertaining talk and great to see the two of them together.
Anita