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LONDON - What happened to the Famous Five, Enid Blyton's crime-busting adolescents who entertained generations with their school holiday adventures?
The question will be answered when Julian, Dick, Anne and George are reunited in middle age, along with a descendant of Timmy the dog, in a new television drama series for adults.
"It is early, early, early days," said a spokesman for Chorion, which owns and manages copyright for the late author and is developing the show with independent television production company Twofour.
The characters - who as youngsters foiled smugglers, kidnappers and spies - will be drawn together again to solve contemporary mysteries aimed at viewers who remember growing up with the Famous Five.
Writers, cast members and even a broadcaster are yet to be found.
"There has been initial interest from broadcasters saying it's an interesting concept, so clearly there's an appetite for this," the spokesman said.
Twofour head of drama Jo Wright said the grown-up characters would be "looking back to a time when their lives were stress-free and more enjoyable".
"We felt that the idea of a grown-up Famous Five would appeal to many generations of readers in Britain and Europe," she said.
Enid Blyton Society members and fans of the author were open-minded about the concept, provided it remained faithful to the original stories.
Society web forum moderator Anita Bensoussane said a complete character reversal, such as tomboy George becoming a dainty woman with a penchant for floral dresses, would be too contrived.
"But a few surprises would be fine as long as they seemed plausible," she told the forum.
The series forms part of a revival for the Famous Five brand, which also includes an animated TV series for children, currently in co-production with Disney (Europe) and set to be broadcast on the UK's Disney Channel in 2008.
The Famous Five is Blyton's most popular children's book series and began with the publication of Five on a Treasure Island in 1942.
A 26-episode television series followed in 1978, 10 years after Blyton died at the age of 71.
That series was aired in Australia by the ABC.
The stories followed resourceful elder brother Julian, joker Dick and straight-laced Anne, who would travel from boarding school to meet up with their cousin Georgina, who insisted on being called George, and her dog Timmy.
While on holiday, they would enjoy picnics, bike rides and their favourite drink - ginger beer - while embarking on various adventures.
- AAP
