Roald Dahl's Esio Trot

Dustin Hoffman and Judi Dench acted together, and wonderfully, in Esio Trot, an essentially children's book brought to the screen. Roald Dahl's tale of late-blooming love, revolving around a tortoise (spell it backwards), with its incremental-growth trick giving me goosepimples for the sublime The Twits, was undermined by the inclusion of actor James Corden and writer Richard Curtis, but not much: Dahl's intention survived, just. He was a wonderfully dark man.

Esio Trot review

This adaptation of Roald Dahl's book about a love affair, starring Judi Dench and Dustin Hoffman and 100 tortoises, is a thing of wonder.

James Corden panned on Twitter for 'awful' narration

James Corden has been criticised for his narration of Roald Dahl's Esio Trot, with hundreds of viewers branding him "awful" on social media.

Esio Trot makes for a twee, syrupy adaptation

In the hands of Richard Curtis, this was gentler viewing than Balamory.

This year has only just got out of the starting blocks, but it is already shaping up to be quite a special one for James Corden.

He was awarded an OBE in the New Year's Honours list, and in March he will be off to the US to host The Late Late Show on CBS five nights a week.

And after his perfect sitcom The Wrong Mans ended 2014 on a high, the actor is back on our screens tonight in this Roald Dahl short story.

In this adaptation by Richard Curtis, Corden plays the on-screen narrator.

He stars alongside Dame Judi Dench and, incredibly, Dustin Hoffman, who play Mrs Silver and her love-struck neighbour Mr Hoppy, who lives in the apartment above hers.

It's hardly a stretch for either of their talents, but it's rather sweet to see them both doing something so playful, and to hear Dame Judi reciting Dahl's nonsense dialogue: "Worg Pu! Ffuts Pu! Thoos Pu!"

The story is charming, but so slight, that to reveal even one detail would probably ruin it completely for any viewers who don't know it already.

But after Victoria Wood's That Day We Sang, and the return of Last Tango In Halifax, it's heartening to see that TV no longer views love as the sole preserve of the young.

Curtis has also provided Mr Hoppy with a love rival, but it's a tortoise called Alfie who will provide him with the greatest challenge.

Radio Times review

Esio Trot (it's "tortoise" backwards) is a drama of the type that broadcasters save up for Christmas and New year, when we are all feeling a bit soppy, mellow and disinclined to be too critical.

It's the slightest of stories, a tale as thin as a fairy's wings, which isn't to say it's not heart-warming and rather sweet. There's just not much to it. Still, with Dustin Hoffman and Judi Dench as leads, and James Corden as a cheerful (onscreen) narrator, Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer's adaptation of the Roald Dahl book is a starry confection.

Hoffman is lonely, diffident Mr Hoppy, who has long nurtured a secret love for lively, glamorous, rather brassy neighbour Mrs Silver (Dench). The pair exchange polite pleasantries on their balconies and Mr Hoppy thinks he's in with a chance, if only he were bold. Then Mrs Silver buys a tortoise called Alfie, who becomes the object of all of her affections.

Dame Judi Dench interview

She is our greatest actress. So why, at 80, is she so scared of slowing down?

Esio Trot, BBC1, TV review: A gloopy Dahl for grown-ups

Roald Dahl's Esio Trot was an adaptation of his tortoise tale that never quite emerged from its shell.

Roald Dahl's Esio Trot: 'a magical start to 2015'

The last time tortoises had a starring TV role was on the opening credits of One Foot In The Grave. Tonight, though, they were central to another tale of retiree romance. Roald Dahl's Esio Trot (BBC One) was a warm, witty and whimsical adaptation of the author's 1990 novel which would have melted even Victor Meldrew's heart. Do believe it.

Esio Trot: Dustin Hoffman & Judi Dench shine

Although Esio Trot is ultimately quite a lightweight story, I feel that Richard Curtis and co-writer Paul Mayhew-Archer make it work due to some great characterisation and extra narrative touches.