The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ first look and casting revealed

Casting for The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ has been announced and a first-look picture released as filming begins on the new series for BBC iPlayer and BBC One.

Based on Sue Townsend’s best-selling book of the same name, the nine-part series is being adapted for the screen by David Nicholls (One Day, Us) and made by Big Talk Studios, part of ITV Studios, for the BBC.

Oliver Savell (Changing Ends, Belfast) will star as the iconic Adrian Mole. Oliver received a BAFTA nomination for Best Male Comedy Performance in 2025 and is nominated again at the upcoming 2026 awards. He also won Best Male Comedy Performance at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards in 2025, with a further nomination in 2026.

Alongside Oliver as Adrian, Lisa McGrillis (Rivals, Mum) plays his mother Pauline and Colin Hoult (After Life, Slow Horses) plays his father George. Pam Ferris (Matilda, Darling Buds of May) joins the cast as Grandma, Galaxie Clear (Extra Geography, Secret Service) as Pandora and Alun Armstrong (The Choral, Breeders) as Bert. 

Other cast also announced today include Jude Forsey as Nigel, Rory Keenan as Mr Lucas, David Wilmot as Mr Scruton and Karl Collins as Mr Cherry.

The adaptation is also being written by Caitlin Moran and Caroline Moran (Raised By Wolves), Dillon Mapletoft and Oliver Taylor (Everyone Else Burns) and Jack Rooke (Big Boys). 

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ marks the return of an iconic British character to our screens. It’s New Year’s Day 1981 and Adrian starts his uniquely funny diary about family life and being a teenager before the advent of mobile phones and social media. With only a multi-coloured ballpoint pen as his guide, Adrian worries about his spots, his parents’ divorce, the torment of first love and the fact he’s never seen a female nipple. This vivid portrait of suburban life in Britain shows how much we have changed while staying the same. The result is a timeless family drama that is as warm and funny as it is sad and poignant.

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ (9x30’) is a Big Talk Studios production for BBC iPlayer and BBC One. The series was commissioned by Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama. The director is Alex Winckler (Somewhere Boy, Mary and George) and the producer is Charlotte Robinson (A Thousand Blows).

The executive producers are Kenton Allen and Luke Alkin for Big Talk Studios, and David Nicholls and Alex Winckler. Filming is underway in and around Hartlepool and Sunderland and the series will air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One.

The production is supported by the North East Production Fund delivered on behalf of the North East Screen Industries Partnership (NESIP) by North East Screen.

JN

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