Adrian Mole

I bought The Lost Diaries of Adrian Mole, 1999-2001 just after Christmas and within half a day I'd finished reading it.

Was anybody else obsessed with this series of books when they were younger? I know I still am and would give anything to just become Adrian Mole.

And what did people think of the 1980s TV series and the more recent Cappuccino Years with Stephen Mangan? I'd really love to see an adaptation of Weapons Of Mass Destruction.

Basically does anybody else adore Adrian Mole as much as I do?

It was a massive show, back when I was in Primary School, so I'll always have a bit of a soft spot for it. Whatever happened to the bloke who originally played Adrian? I remember he presented a Saturday morning kids TV show (Ghost Train?) for a while, then he vanished.

I love the Mole books. Sue Townsend is a brilliant comic writer and I'm half-way through WMD for the 3rd time. She has wonderful light touch, not unlike Wodehouse.

I remeber being very disappointed with the eighties TV shows for despite an excellent cast the production never got near the humour and wit of the books.

I used to have those books also, like you though, I didn't think the TV series was as good.

Loved the books, loved the TV series even loved the musical.

Who does Adrian Mole remind me of?

And they were quite serious in their own way.

Also loved the theme tune.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nnSJ1-jrJI&feature=related

Disliking a show with a theme by Ian Drury is evidence of communist tendencies.

Quote: sootyj @ January 2 2009, 11:21 AM GMT

Disliking a show with a theme by Ian Drury is evidence of communist tendencies.

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For some reaosn, this made me do a (small) lol.

I adored the books, first as a kid and later reading the Cappuccino Years when being 17-18 and actually understanding a bit about British politics & could read books in English. I begun to understand them on a whole new level and realized what was so funny about Adrian Mole, the real awfulness of the character. Maybe for that I feel like I couldn't really appreciate them in any other format than books..

On the other hand, Stephen Mangan did the whole "hatable-but-weirdly-likable" thing in Green Wing so well I might give that show a go.

I really enjoyed The Cappuccino Years show. It did miss out a lot of stuff, but I do feel that Stephen did a great job in channelling Adrian.

I loved reading the books over and over again as I got older and understood more and more. Even now I can read the first book and be amazed how I didn't get a joke or reference that I now do!

I'm fairly sure I watched the TV show in the 1980s and loved it.

I mainly remember him wearing a plaster on his face to hide a big spot and pretending he cut himself shaving.

The only thing I remember about The Cappucino Years, was a scene in which Adrian turned up at the BBC, with a completed script, for a TV series he had wriiten, which he wanted them to produce.

The first two books (The Secret Diary and The Growing Pains) were absolutely superb, but then I got bored of them. I've seen the TV show and although it is very good, it did the two great books no justice.
A word of warning, don't borrow a ruler of Adrian Mole.

Gian Sammarco starred in the first couple of series and - little known fact - he became disillusioned with acting and went into psychiatric nursing. He was pals with a mate of mine while they were training together. Apparently being Mole was a bit of burden and he refused to talk about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gian_Sammarco

Good cast. Playing Bert Baxter's fiancee and soon to be wife was Doris Hare, who brilliantly played Mum in On The Buses.
Playing school bully Barry Kent was Chris Gascoyne, who today can be seen playing Peter Barlow in Coronation Street.

Quote: Jack Massey @ January 9 2009, 11:53 AM GMT

Playing school bully Barry Kent was Chris Gascoyne, who today can be seen playing Peter Barlow in Coronation Street.

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I knew I recognised him from somewhere! Being born after the Tv Show was broadcast I was only able to see it a few years ago for the first time and I knew I knew Barry Kent from somewhere. Thanks for that!

I was a big fan of the books and TV series back in the day. They were so funny and original that any would-be writer must dream of getting an idea for a character like that.