Just William (2010)
- TV comedy drama
- BBC One
- 2010
- 4 episodes (1 series)
Small-screen adapatation of the legendary literary schoolboy rascal's comic adventures. Stars Daniel Roche, Daniel Ryan, Rebecca Front, Warren Clarke, Caroline Quentin and more.
Streaming rank this week: 8,392
Press clippings Page 2
John Sessions guest stars as a vain Shakespearean scholar in this fourth and final episode of the BBC's latest adaptation of Richmal Crompton's Just William stories. He arrives at William's school armed with a copy of Hamlet and a plan for an annual Shakespeare competition which, needless to say, goes awry thanks to the intervention of a certain young boy. There are a few amusing set-pieces (such as when William, played by Outnumbered's Daniel Roche, takes to the stage with a patchily memorised but nevertheless rousing version of the "To be or not to be" speech) but alas the episode lacks the effortless charm of Crompton's original story.
The Telegraph, 23rd December 2010A daunting leap for Just William
Britain's favourite 11-year-old imp is set to become a TV star. But will Richmal Crompton's wit survive the transition?
Michael Deacon, The Telegraph, 22nd December 2010Just William, BBC One, preview
Sam Richards previews Simon Nye's BBC One adaptation of Richmal Crompton's popular Just William short stories.
Sam Richards, The Telegraph, 22nd December 2010This is the fourth time Richmal Compton's larger-than-life schoolboy has been cut down to size for the small screen (previous William Browns famously include a scabby-kneed Dennis Waterman - he could be so bad for you), and some might argue these stories actually work best on the radio, c/o the peerless readings of Martin Jarvis - who, in a best-of-both-worlds scenario, also intermittently narrates this new 1950s-set adaptation from Simon Nye, which does lack a certain fizz. Outnumbered's Daniel Roche plays the scowling scamp, tonight encountering Violet Elizabeth Bott.
Ali Catterall, The Guardian, 20th December 2010Video: Just William's adventures come to television
An all-star cast is due to bring the exploits of mischievous schoolboy Just William to life this Christmas.
The BBC adaptation has been filmed nearly a century after the publication of the William books by author Richmal Crompton.
The BBC's Emma Jones went behind-the-scenes.
Emma Jones, BBC News, 16th December 2010Outnumbered actor Daniel Roche to star in Just William
Outnumbered child star Daniel Roche - who plays naughty Ben Brockman in the BBC comedy - is to play the lead role in a new adaptation of Just William.
BBC News, 28th July 2010