Much-loved BBC drama The Box Of Delights is making its Blu-ray debut for its 40th anniversary. More on the release here.
Fully appreciating that some (younger) people will read this post and have no idea what it’s actually about, The Box Of Delights was a much-loved festive children’s television drama that first aired in 1984.
Based on the book by John Masefield, the BBC adapted it into a six-parter, that it ran in the run-up to Christmas. From its festive theme tune, to Patrick Troughton in a fine beard, wolves running and a wonderfully 1980s visual effects, the programme quickly became hugely popular. So much so that a relatively successful DVD release popped up too.
It’s not been in great shape though in terms of its presentation for some time now. Hence, the really rather excellent news that for its 40th anniversary, the BBC has remastered The Box Of Delights...
Fully appreciating that some (younger) people will read this post and have no idea what it’s actually about, The Box Of Delights was a much-loved festive children’s television drama that first aired in 1984.
Based on the book by John Masefield, the BBC adapted it into a six-parter, that it ran in the run-up to Christmas. From its festive theme tune, to Patrick Troughton in a fine beard, wolves running and a wonderfully 1980s visual effects, the programme quickly became hugely popular. So much so that a relatively successful DVD release popped up too.
It’s not been in great shape though in terms of its presentation for some time now. Hence, the really rather excellent news that for its 40th anniversary, the BBC has remastered The Box Of Delights...
- 9/30/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
It’s Christmas Eve, and you’re as ready as you’ll ever be. Presents under the tree? Check. Turkey in the fridge? Check. Mince pie for Father Christmas and a carrot for Rudolf on the hearth? Check. The thinning of the veil between this world and the next, allowing unquiet spirits to walk the Earth and the long shadows in the moonlit, frosty lanes to shift and darken with things not of this world? Check, check and check.
Because while Christmas might traditionally be the season of goodwill, comfort and joy, it is also very much the time of ghosts. And no one appreciates that quite as much as Mark Gatiss.
Gatiss is one of our most recognisable TV actors and writers, making his name with the surreal comedy of The League of Gentlemen and cementing his reputation with a starring role in Sherlock, his TV take on Dracula,...
Because while Christmas might traditionally be the season of goodwill, comfort and joy, it is also very much the time of ghosts. And no one appreciates that quite as much as Mark Gatiss.
Gatiss is one of our most recognisable TV actors and writers, making his name with the surreal comedy of The League of Gentlemen and cementing his reputation with a starring role in Sherlock, his TV take on Dracula,...
- 12/23/2022
- by David Barnett
- The Independent - TV
Wesley Mead Dec 19, 2016
Think Christmas TV has always been warm and fluffy? Think again, as we revisit some disturbing vintage festive specials...
The festive season holds long-held ties to the macabre. From the classic novels of Charles Dickens to the melancholy of the Christmas carol canon, Christmas has always harboured a darker side, lurking beyond the tinsel and mince pies. That role has extended to festive television: for every smiles-and-silliness sitcom special, there’s a programme with an altogether more disturbing spin on the season – be that a dramatic Christmas episode imbued with fear and bloodshed, or a family classic whose ostensibly wholesome charms look questionable in retrospect.
See related Star Wars: Rogue One enjoys huge opening weekend
An early mainstay of the medium in its infancy, morality play anthology series were our first taste of a darker Christmastime being translated to television. Alfred Hitchcock Presents’ Back From Christmas...
Think Christmas TV has always been warm and fluffy? Think again, as we revisit some disturbing vintage festive specials...
The festive season holds long-held ties to the macabre. From the classic novels of Charles Dickens to the melancholy of the Christmas carol canon, Christmas has always harboured a darker side, lurking beyond the tinsel and mince pies. That role has extended to festive television: for every smiles-and-silliness sitcom special, there’s a programme with an altogether more disturbing spin on the season – be that a dramatic Christmas episode imbued with fear and bloodshed, or a family classic whose ostensibly wholesome charms look questionable in retrospect.
See related Star Wars: Rogue One enjoys huge opening weekend
An early mainstay of the medium in its infancy, morality play anthology series were our first taste of a darker Christmastime being translated to television. Alfred Hitchcock Presents’ Back From Christmas...
- 12/15/2016
- Den of Geek
Alex Westthorp Sep 19, 2016
We revisit Tom's Midnight Garden, Moondial, The Chronicles Of Narnia and a few lesser-known UK children's TV series...
Read our look-back at UK kids' fantasy dramas 1980 - 1984 here.
By 1985 British TV's children's drama had really hit its stride, achieving "a balanced diet of programmes" as Edward Barnes, the head of the BBC children's department observed. The late 80s, arguably, saw a new golden age for spooky and magical kids drama. Excellent production values, improved significantly by well-honed special effects work using Quantel, Paintbox and Harry, and moreover some interesting casting - often of very talented newcomers - produced some of the most memorable dramas of the era.
The second half of the decade saw the BBC riding high on the back of the success of their state-of-the-art adaptation of John Masefield's Box Of Delights. Meanwhile, anthology series Dramarama was going from strength to strength on ITV.
We revisit Tom's Midnight Garden, Moondial, The Chronicles Of Narnia and a few lesser-known UK children's TV series...
Read our look-back at UK kids' fantasy dramas 1980 - 1984 here.
By 1985 British TV's children's drama had really hit its stride, achieving "a balanced diet of programmes" as Edward Barnes, the head of the BBC children's department observed. The late 80s, arguably, saw a new golden age for spooky and magical kids drama. Excellent production values, improved significantly by well-honed special effects work using Quantel, Paintbox and Harry, and moreover some interesting casting - often of very talented newcomers - produced some of the most memorable dramas of the era.
The second half of the decade saw the BBC riding high on the back of the success of their state-of-the-art adaptation of John Masefield's Box Of Delights. Meanwhile, anthology series Dramarama was going from strength to strength on ITV.
- 8/16/2016
- Den of Geek
Alex Westthorp Sep 14, 2016
Did fantasy dramas Chocky, The Box Of Delights and Dramarama leave an impression on you as a kid? Revisit those nightmares here...
Spooky, always magical and occasionally downright scary dramas are the bedrock of kids' television. For me, the pinnacle of this sort of programme was reached in the 1980s. The decade saw a new approach to both traditional and contemporary drama by both UK broadcasters: ITV committed itself to regular seasons of children's plays with Dramarama (1983-89), a kind of youth version of the venerable BBC Play For Today (1970-84), which saw the 1988 television debut of one David Tennant. The BBC, building upon an impressive body of work from the early 70s onwards, produced some of its very best family drama in this era, embracing cutting edge technology to bring treats like The Box Of Delights (1984) and The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe (1988) to the screen.
Did fantasy dramas Chocky, The Box Of Delights and Dramarama leave an impression on you as a kid? Revisit those nightmares here...
Spooky, always magical and occasionally downright scary dramas are the bedrock of kids' television. For me, the pinnacle of this sort of programme was reached in the 1980s. The decade saw a new approach to both traditional and contemporary drama by both UK broadcasters: ITV committed itself to regular seasons of children's plays with Dramarama (1983-89), a kind of youth version of the venerable BBC Play For Today (1970-84), which saw the 1988 television debut of one David Tennant. The BBC, building upon an impressive body of work from the early 70s onwards, produced some of its very best family drama in this era, embracing cutting edge technology to bring treats like The Box Of Delights (1984) and The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe (1988) to the screen.
- 8/15/2016
- Den of Geek
Feature Alex Westthorp 9 Apr 2014 - 07:00
In the next part of his series, Alex talks us through the film careers of the second and fourth Doctors, Patrick Troughton and Tom Baker...
Read Alex's retrospective on the film careers of William Hartnell and Jon Pertwee, here.
Like their fellow Time Lord actors, William Hartnell and Jon Pertwee, Patrick Troughton and Tom Baker also shared certain genres of film. Both appeared, before and after their time as the Doctor, in horror movies and both worked on Ray Harryhausen Sinbad films.
Patrick George Troughton was born in Mill Hill, London on March 25th 1920. He made his film debut aged 28 in the 1948 B-Movie The Escape. Troughton's was a very minor role. Among the better known cast was William Hartnell, though even Hartnell's role was small and the two didn't share any scenes together. From the late Forties, Troughton found more success on the small screen,...
In the next part of his series, Alex talks us through the film careers of the second and fourth Doctors, Patrick Troughton and Tom Baker...
Read Alex's retrospective on the film careers of William Hartnell and Jon Pertwee, here.
Like their fellow Time Lord actors, William Hartnell and Jon Pertwee, Patrick Troughton and Tom Baker also shared certain genres of film. Both appeared, before and after their time as the Doctor, in horror movies and both worked on Ray Harryhausen Sinbad films.
Patrick George Troughton was born in Mill Hill, London on March 25th 1920. He made his film debut aged 28 in the 1948 B-Movie The Escape. Troughton's was a very minor role. Among the better known cast was William Hartnell, though even Hartnell's role was small and the two didn't share any scenes together. From the late Forties, Troughton found more success on the small screen,...
- 4/8/2014
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
News Simon Brew 24 Jan 2014 - 06:54
John Wyndham's sci-fi classic, The Day Of The Triffids, is heading back to the big screen...
Four Weddings And A Funeral and Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire director Mike Newell has been hired to bring a new take on John Wyndham's The Day Of The Triffids to the big screen.
The film has been in developed for a while, with Ghost House Pictures putting the movie together, from a script by Neil Cross. That's the same Neil Cross behind Luther, who penned a couple of Doctor Who episodes in the last series run, and who also wrote Mama.
The Day Of The Triffids has, of course, enjoyed success on the screen before. A movie of the book was released in 1962, although it's arguably the BBC's television adaptation from 1981 that's best known (and that terrified this writer as a child). More recently,...
John Wyndham's sci-fi classic, The Day Of The Triffids, is heading back to the big screen...
Four Weddings And A Funeral and Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire director Mike Newell has been hired to bring a new take on John Wyndham's The Day Of The Triffids to the big screen.
The film has been in developed for a while, with Ghost House Pictures putting the movie together, from a script by Neil Cross. That's the same Neil Cross behind Luther, who penned a couple of Doctor Who episodes in the last series run, and who also wrote Mama.
The Day Of The Triffids has, of course, enjoyed success on the screen before. A movie of the book was released in 1962, although it's arguably the BBC's television adaptation from 1981 that's best known (and that terrified this writer as a child). More recently,...
- 1/24/2014
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
Feature Simon Brew 1 Oct 2013 - 07:53
You know at the end of some action movies where everyone jumps up in euphoria? Is it just us that thinks they've forgotten a few things?
Every now and then, there's an action movie that involves our hero fighting the good fight, whilst a crowd of people wait, tensed up, to hear the outcome. Usually these people wear expensive suits and look important. Yet these strange people share something in common. When the baddies have been defeated and they get the news, they have a habit of running around as if it's been the best day ever. Furthermore, they have a habit of forgetting that lots of people may have died, and died in some cases just minutes before. You want examples? Grab your favourite celebrating outfit, and walk this way...
Air Force One What Are They Celebrating?
They won! America is saved! Harrison Ford...
You know at the end of some action movies where everyone jumps up in euphoria? Is it just us that thinks they've forgotten a few things?
Every now and then, there's an action movie that involves our hero fighting the good fight, whilst a crowd of people wait, tensed up, to hear the outcome. Usually these people wear expensive suits and look important. Yet these strange people share something in common. When the baddies have been defeated and they get the news, they have a habit of running around as if it's been the best day ever. Furthermore, they have a habit of forgetting that lots of people may have died, and died in some cases just minutes before. You want examples? Grab your favourite celebrating outfit, and walk this way...
Air Force One What Are They Celebrating?
They won! America is saved! Harrison Ford...
- 10/1/2013
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
The Box of Delights
N Conrad
Click here to friend Best British TV on Facebook or here to follow us on Twitter.
Over the years, the British TV networks have aired some amazing shows over the festive season. People will inevitably argue over the Christmas dinner table as to which of these shows are the best. In order to spare you all from such fierce debates we have decided to put together our list of the 10 best ever British TV Christmas shows.
1. The Snowman. As the debate about the best Christmas show rages on, it is ironic that the best ever British TV Christmas show is the one that contains absolutely no dialogue unless you count David Bowie’s cheesy intro scene. Raymond Briggs’ artwork and Aled Jones singing have ensured that this 80s cartoon will always remain at the top of this list.
2. The Box of Delights. Money was...
N Conrad
Click here to friend Best British TV on Facebook or here to follow us on Twitter.
Over the years, the British TV networks have aired some amazing shows over the festive season. People will inevitably argue over the Christmas dinner table as to which of these shows are the best. In order to spare you all from such fierce debates we have decided to put together our list of the 10 best ever British TV Christmas shows.
1. The Snowman. As the debate about the best Christmas show rages on, it is ironic that the best ever British TV Christmas show is the one that contains absolutely no dialogue unless you count David Bowie’s cheesy intro scene. Raymond Briggs’ artwork and Aled Jones singing have ensured that this 80s cartoon will always remain at the top of this list.
2. The Box of Delights. Money was...
- 12/19/2011
- by admin
The Borrowers
N Campion
Click here to friend Best British TV on Facebook or here to follow us on Twitter.
Mary Norton’s classic children’s story The Borrowers comes to BBC1 this Christmas. The 90 minute adaptation stars former Doctor Who Christopher Eccleston, Victoria Wood and Stephen Fry. Aisling Loftus takes on the role of Arrietty Clock, a teenage Borrower who is keen to explore the world of the creatures the Borrowers refer to as “Human Beans.” The drama is in the same mold as past Christmas dramatizations of children’s classics such as The Box of Delights and The Children of Green Knowe.
In recent years the BBC have won the Christmas ratings war but many people believe that ITV could win the battle this year since the network have put together a strong line up of shows that includes a Downton Abbey holidays episode, a one-off drama called Fast Freddie,...
N Campion
Click here to friend Best British TV on Facebook or here to follow us on Twitter.
Mary Norton’s classic children’s story The Borrowers comes to BBC1 this Christmas. The 90 minute adaptation stars former Doctor Who Christopher Eccleston, Victoria Wood and Stephen Fry. Aisling Loftus takes on the role of Arrietty Clock, a teenage Borrower who is keen to explore the world of the creatures the Borrowers refer to as “Human Beans.” The drama is in the same mold as past Christmas dramatizations of children’s classics such as The Box of Delights and The Children of Green Knowe.
In recent years the BBC have won the Christmas ratings war but many people believe that ITV could win the battle this year since the network have put together a strong line up of shows that includes a Downton Abbey holidays episode, a one-off drama called Fast Freddie,...
- 11/15/2011
- by admin
The Rapture of Unreason
“I grew up around Christians who believed in a seven day creation, preached the reality of Hell and Judgement, and railed against the lie that was evolution. They were also, for the most part, racists and homophobes… And the only difference between them and me was that I had a father who shoved a science fiction paperback into my pre-teen hands and ordered me to read it. After all, it’s pretty hard to be prejudiced against blacks and gays when you’re a-okay with Klingons and the Green Men of Mars.”
– Lou Anders, Bowing to the Future
So the 21st of May came and went without a whiff of the Rapture, nary a hint of Moby Douche, the Great White Fail, breaching the firmament above. No star called Wormwood fallen from the sky, turning a third of the waters to tasty absinthe. No angels treading...
“I grew up around Christians who believed in a seven day creation, preached the reality of Hell and Judgement, and railed against the lie that was evolution. They were also, for the most part, racists and homophobes… And the only difference between them and me was that I had a father who shoved a science fiction paperback into my pre-teen hands and ordered me to read it. After all, it’s pretty hard to be prejudiced against blacks and gays when you’re a-okay with Klingons and the Green Men of Mars.”
– Lou Anders, Bowing to the Future
So the 21st of May came and went without a whiff of the Rapture, nary a hint of Moby Douche, the Great White Fail, breaching the firmament above. No star called Wormwood fallen from the sky, turning a third of the waters to tasty absinthe. No angels treading...
- 6/9/2011
- by Hal Duncan
- Boomtron
A quarter of a century ago, a few weeks before Christmas, this happened…
…and children’s TV, particularly at Christmastime, was never the same again.
It has been twenty five years since the BBC’s adaptation of John Masefield’s magical fantasy The Box of Delights appeared and time has not weathered its charm and festive cheer.
If you find yourself shouting the word ‘Splendiferous!’ when opening your presents on Christmas morning, or muttering that Granny nabbing the last After Eight mint is the ‘Purple Pim’ then chances are you’ve seen, and fallen in love with, The Box of Delights. It is a delightful yarn, spun with a love of Boy’s Own adventures and using some innovative animation effects to create a television event that is a treasure trove of nostalgic joy.
It begins with the impeccably posh young boy Kay Harker as he returns home from boarding...
…and children’s TV, particularly at Christmastime, was never the same again.
It has been twenty five years since the BBC’s adaptation of John Masefield’s magical fantasy The Box of Delights appeared and time has not weathered its charm and festive cheer.
If you find yourself shouting the word ‘Splendiferous!’ when opening your presents on Christmas morning, or muttering that Granny nabbing the last After Eight mint is the ‘Purple Pim’ then chances are you’ve seen, and fallen in love with, The Box of Delights. It is a delightful yarn, spun with a love of Boy’s Own adventures and using some innovative animation effects to create a television event that is a treasure trove of nostalgic joy.
It begins with the impeccably posh young boy Kay Harker as he returns home from boarding...
- 12/18/2009
- by Jon Lyus
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Mike Newell has signed on to direct an adaptation of John Masefield’s 1930s kids’ book The Box Of Delights. Millions scribe Frank Cottrel Boyce has been hired by bankrollers Brilliant Films to write an adaptation of the story, which finds a young lad entrusted with the titular box, bursting with magic that allows him to time travel and sparks other fun adventures. Readers of a certain age will remember that it became a big hit as a BBC tea time drama (below) back in 1984, and even older types might recall the radio...
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- 4/6/2009
- by jwhite
- TotalFilm
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