what a delight
Iconic BBC fantasy series returning to screens – 40 years after debut episode
One of the show's stars quit acting for a different career
THE BBC has announced that it will be screening a classic series as part of its Christmas schedule.
The screening of The Box of Delights will mark the 40th anniversary of the beloved adaptation of John Masefield’s children’s book.
4
4
4
The ambitious fantasy series originally aired on BBC One in the winter of 1984 and had a staggering budget of £1m, the biggest ever for a children’s series at the time.
The story is a classic good vs evil tale of the schoolboy Kay Harker, who finds himself protecting a box with magical properties from an evil wizard.
Actor Patrick Troughton, who viewers may know as the second Doctor Who, played the keeper of the box, Cole Hawlings.
The youngest star of the show was Devin Stanfield who plays the lead role. It was the peak of a short-lived career for the child star.
Read More on the BBC
Speaking years later, Devin spoke of the challenges in bringing the far fetched fantasy to life.
The special effects that viewers can see in the BBC Four repeat really pushed the limits of what was possible at the time.
Not all of the scenes could be made with special effects though and Devin remembers bravely putting himself forward for most of his own stunts.
He told : “They were going to use a stunt double for the scene where the pony runs up to the stockade, but I insisted I could ride bareback even though I’d only been on a horse a handful of times.
Most read in News TV
“There’s a shot following the horse from behind where you see it stumble slightly – that’s really me riding. I said yes to everything – ‘Can you wield a sword?’ ‘Yeah, of course!’”
After The Box of Delights, Devin did audition for other parts but called time on his short acting career when he lost out to Christian Bale for the lead role in Steven Spielberg’s 1988 film Empire of the Sun.
Bafta-winning BBC comedy to return for second series after awards triumph
Devin is still in the industry but now works behind the camera as a production manager and technical director.
As well as being a fan favourite The Box of Delights series also received several awards including three BAFTAs.
For many viewers the BBC adaptation of the book remains a Christmas favourite and, alongside the seasonal repeat, all six episodes are also being released on Blu-Ray.
This will include a new accompanying documentary film, Time and Tide – Making The Box of Delights.
4
The Box of Delights will air on BBC Four on Saturday, December 7 from 7:10pm
Topics