Adrian Mole - The Cappuccino Years (2001)

Intro

A comedy-drama by Sue Townsend, adapted from her novel, and first broadcast from 2 February - 9 March 2001, 9.30pm (BBC1).

Running time: 3 hours (broadcast as six 30-minute episodes)

Overview

Author Sue Townsend first showed Adrian Mole's secret diary to the world during the 1980s, when her comic creation was a troubled teenager, madly in love with his ambitious schoolfriend, Pandora Braithwaite.

In satire The Cappuccino Years, Adrian returns as a dissatisfied thirty-something, on the eve of the 1997 general election. He is still infatuated with high-flying Pandora, but she is preoccupied by her campaign to become a New Labour MP.

Spurred on by the prevailing mood of optimism as the party enjoys a landslide victory, Adrian's mother, the ever restless Pauline, embarks on an affair with Pandora's father, Ivan. When Pandora's quirky mother, Tania, invites Adrian's father, George, to stay, more partner swapping ensues!

Meanwhile, struggling single-father Adrian dreams of joining the intelligentsia, and his childhood sweetheart discovers that the path to political power is a rockier road than she had imagined.

Cast

Stephen Mangan ... Adrian Mole

Alison Steadman ... Pauline Mole

Alun Armstrong ... George Mole

Melissa Batchelor ... Rosie Mole

Harry Tomes ... William Mole

Helen Baxendale ... Pandora Braithwaite

Zoë Wanamaker ... Tania Braithwaite

James Hazeldine ... Ivan Braithwaite

Alexander De'Ath ... Glenn Bott

Ruth Jones ... Sharon Bott

Jamila Massey ... Mrs Parvez

Roderic Culver ... Nigel Hetherington

Keith Allen ... Peter Savage

Joseph Long ... Luigi

Barry Farrimond ... Malcolm

Lynne Lowton ... Justine

James Wilby ... Zippo Montefiore

Joseph O'Connor ... Archie Tait

Tony Haase ... Marcus

Rohit Gokani ... Mohammed

Sam Douglas ... Brick Eagleburger

Pooky Quesnel ... Eleanor Flood

Crew

Director: Sandy Johnson
Producers: Sue Townsend and Sarah Smith
Executive Producer: Geoffrey Perkins
Cinematography: Alasdair Walker
Production Designer: Gillian Miles
Costume Designer: Aideen Morgan
Make-up Designer: Fran Needham
Make-up Artist: Benita Barrell

Press coverage

'Adrian Mole Returns to the Screen' - Guardian

Merchandise

Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years by Sue Townsend