Hank Zipzer

Adapted from the books by Lin Oliver and Henry Winkler, based upon Winkler's own experience of growing up with dyslexia, Hank Zipzer is a fast-paced, frantic and very funny comedy, with serious undertones, from the CBBC channel.

Several aspects of episode one did jar, however. Firstly, our schoolboy anti-hero's extremely American-sounding name is never explained. Secondly, I'd like to think that modern schools are sufficiently enlightened around dyslexia not to punish a student with the condition by making him read his essay aloud in assembly. Thirdly, the quality of the acting among the young cast covers a wide spectrum, and that's putting it charitably.

Minor quibbles apart, Hank Zipzer is great fun, cleverly constructed and eminently likeable. It also boasts an excellent adult cast, including Felicity Montagu as Hank's bad-tempered, sword-wielding teacher Miss Adolf, and Winkler himself oozes charm as a rock'n'roll music teacher, appropriately named Mr Rock.

New kids' series adapted from books based on Henry "The Fonz" Winkler's schooldays, and featuring the man himself as a cool teacher. Hank (newcomer Nick James) is so mischievous that even his younger sister has disowned him. Although the 12-year-old doesn't let his dyslexia hold him back, a written task from Miss Adolf proves a headache. Will an interactive - rather than a literary - take on his trip to Niagara Falls be enough to please his iron-fisted teacher? Family fun with a talented young cast.

TV review: Hank Zipzer

This is unmistakably an opening episode as the establishment of the characters is hammered home with earthquake-like subtlety while a couple of the performances are a little wooden.

Happy Days hero Henry Winkler co-stars with newcomer Nick James in this terrific comedy-drama adapted from the former's auto-biographical novels about growing up with dyslexia. The result is a fast-paced, funny series following Hank Zipzer, a boy with a lust for life that always trumps both his dyslexia and his mean teacher Miss Adolf. The former Fonz's star quality hasn't dimmed, and he's perfectly cast as rebellious music teacher Mr Rock.

Funny, imaginative... and dyslexic. That's Hank, who struggles to express himself on paper, but has no problems in person. He's helped by his two "bessies", his family and Henry "the Fonz" Winkler as music teacher Mr Rock. This new school comedy was inspired by the books by Winkler and Lin Oliver based on Winkler's own young experiences of dyslexia.

Henry 'the Fonz' Winkler co-wrote the books that this high-energy new British school comedy is based on. Hank is a dyslexic boy (as was Winkler) with a quick mouth, who's given short shrift by an uptight teacher (Felicity Montagu), but finds a kindred spirit in another (Winkler). Hank is played with great sparkle by Nick James, and the series has a warmth that does credit to all involved.