Brendon Chase facts for kids
Brendon Chase is an exciting children's book written by Denys Watkins-Pitchford, who used the pen name 'BB'. It was first published in 1944. The story is about three brothers who decide to live on their own in an English forest. This popular book was later turned into a 13-part TV show. The TV series was shown on ITV in the UK from 1980 to 1981. It was also popular in many other countries, including Europe and the United States.
Contents
The Story of Brendon Chase
The book follows the adventures of the Hensman brothers: Robin, John, and Harold. They spend eight months living like outlaws in the big forest of Brendon Chase. Their parents are away in India, so their strict Aunt Ellen looks after them.
Running Away to the Wild
At the end of their Easter holidays, Harold gets sick with the measles. This means Robin and John cannot go back to their boarding school. Instead, they decide to run away and live by themselves. They take some food from their aunt's house. They also take a rifle and bullets to help them survive in the wild.
Life in the Forest
The boys are very clever and good at hiding. Police Sergeant Bunting and Reverend Whiting try to catch them many times, but the brothers always escape. Harold joins them once he feels better. They live off the land, hunting for food and sometimes taking supplies from other places. In the book, Robin is called "Robin Hood", John is "Big John", and Harold is "Little John".
New Friends and Challenges
Later in their adventure, the boys' clothes wear out, so they start wearing rabbit skins. They meet an unusual old man named Smokoe Joe, who burns wood to make charcoal. Smokoe Joe becomes a good friend to them. When Smokoe Joe gets badly hurt, one of the boys bravely runs for a doctor. This puts him at risk of being caught. After spending Christmas with Smokoe Joe, the boys are finally found. The doctor, who had kept their secret, arrives with their father, who has returned home. The story ends with them in the forest. A bear that had escaped earlier in the forest finds their old hollow oak tree and settles there for the winter.
The TV Series Adaptation
The book Brendon Chase was made into a TV series in 1980. Southern Television produced the show. It was shown on ITV from December 31, 1980, to March 25, 1981. The series was also broadcast in other countries like Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Norway. In the United States, it aired on HBO.
Filming Locations and Cast
The TV series was mostly filmed around the New Forest and in Portchester, Hampshire. The book's setting was inspired by the author's home area of Northamptonshire. David Cobham produced and directed the show. The music was by Paul Lewis, with flute played by James Galway. The series is known for its beautiful shots of wildlife.
The Hensman brothers were played by:
- Craig McFarlane as Robin
- Howard Taylor as John
- Paul Erangey as Harold
Other main actors included:
- Rosalie Crutchley as Aunt Ellen
- Paul Curran as Smokoe Joe
- Michael Robbins as Police Sergeant Bunting
- Christopher Biggins as Reverend Whiting
- Liza Goddard as Monica Hurling (a new character for the TV show)
Differences in the TV Show
The TV series changed a few things from the book:
- In the show, the boys' mother has passed away, and only their father is abroad.
- The story is specifically set in the year 1925.
- The boys' special nicknames (like "Robin Hood") are not used.
- Christmas is not mentioned in the TV series.
A new character, Monica Hurling, was added to the TV show. She is a journalist from a made-up newspaper called The London Planet. She writes stories about the Hensman boys, making the public very interested. Her newspaper even offers a £50 reward to find them. This character shows the difference between city life and the quiet countryside. Monica Hurling does not appear in the original book.
Availability of the Series
The TV series was only shown once in Britain. This was mainly because Southern Television lost its ITV contract in 1982. For many years, you could not buy the series on VHS or DVD. However, in 2012, it was released on DVD in Germany (with German language only). In 2015, a Dutch release followed on DVD and Blu-ray, which included the original English language with Dutch subtitles.
