Casting confirmed for North East shot Adrian Mole reboot
New BBC adaptation casts rising star Oliver Savell in lead role as locations across the region offer a backdrop to the series
A first glimpse of a much-loved British character has been unveiled, as the BBC confirms stellar casting on a new adaptation of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ – with the North East set to take centre stage.
Based on the iconic and beloved book by Sue Townsend, the nine-part series is being brought to the screen by David Nicholls, whose previous credits include One Day and Us. Produced by Big Talk Studios, the show will air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One.
Rising star Oliver Savell takes on the title role of Adrian Mole, the introspective and often anxious teenager navigating life in early 1980s Britain.
Already recognised with a BAFTA nomination for Best Male Comedy Performance in 2025 and nominated again for 2026 for his portrayal of Alan Carr in ITV series, Changing Ends, Oliver will be joined by Lisa McGrillis as Adrian’s mother Pauline and Colin Hoult appears as his father George.
Further casting includes Pam Ferris as Grandma, Galaxie Clear as Pandora and Alun Armstrong as Bert, alongside a wider ensemble bringing Adrian’s world to life.
Kicking off on New Year’s Day 1981, the series follows Adrian as he begins documenting his life in a diary, capturing the awkwardness, humour and intensity of adolescence before the age of smartphones and social media.
Armed with little more than a multi-coloured ballpoint pen, Adrian chronicles everything from his struggles with acne and his parents’ relationship to the confusion of first love.
This won’t be the first TV adaptation of the hit book series. The first hit the small screen in 1985, starring Gian Sammarco as Adrian alongside Stephen Moore, Julie Walters as his mum and Beryl Reid as his grandma. Then in 2001, Adrian Mole: The Cappucino Years was screened on BBC2 and caught up with the titular character as he turned 30.
Filming is now underway for the new reboot in and around Hartlepool and Sunderland, bringing a major television production to the region. The series has been backed by the North East Production Fund, delivered by North East Screen on behalf of the North East Screen Industries Partnership.
The adaptation also features writing contributions from a team including Caitlin Moran, Caroline Moran, Dillon Mapletoft, Oliver Taylor and Jack Rooke, while direction comes from Alex Winckler and production from Charlotte Robinson.