BBC1 - Adrian Mole:the Cappuccino Years

Adrian Mole is a national phenomenon. The first series of books I ever read, I've always been a massive Moley - and Sue Townsend - fan. The original TV series, rereleased on video soon and starring Julie Walters and Beryl Reid, was superb, and Townsend's books need no introduction. The latest book, 'The Cappucino Years', is an excellent read, but somewhere it's been lost in translation. For one, Stephen Mangam just isn't Adrian Mole. Mole is supposed to be a Leicester born, quirky, geeky guy, whereas Mangam just looks himself dressed down for the part. Helen Baxendale's Pandora really doesn't ... more

Sue Townsend’s excellent schoolboy character Adrian Mole has returned in a new comedy series in his Capuccino Years. I confess as yet I have no idea what is meant by the cappuccino years. I assume it has some meaning but alas it escapes me just yet. Unfortunately you have to say why on earth have they bothered to bring Adrian back. Whilst there was perhaps some interest in whatever became of the youthful lust which Adrian had for his Pandora it might have been more profitable to just announce what happened. To commission a new TV series is only a good idea if you have some new comedy ... more

Having thoroughly enjoyed all Sue Townsend's diaries on the loveable, if not slightly dim Adrian Mole, I was delighted to hear that they would be making a series of "The Cappucino Years" (which I have not yet read). However, when I finished watching the first episode, I felt disappointed that the BBC could ruin a perfectly good character. Adrian Mole was suddenly a father to two, or was it three? Even that was unclear, his children seemed to drift into the plot at convenient moments, at all other times it felt like the writers had simply forgotten they were part of the book. The person who ... more

I tuned in to the new Adrian Mole comedy on BBC1 last night. I had enjoyed Sue Townsend's original Secret Diary when he was 13 and a bit and was interested to see how things had moved on. I was also attracted by the impressive cast, which included Alison Steadman, Zoe Wanamaker, Keith Allen and one of my favourites Helen Baxendale as Pandora. This time the story is set on the eve of the General Election in 1997 and Pandora is standing as a New Labour candidate in Ashby de la Zouch and Adrian is a single parent working as an offal chef in London. Mole, played by Stephen Mangan is still besotted ... more

... it ain't. Sue Townsend's original Adrian Mole Diaries were a bit juvenile to say the least, but they were certainly an excellent parody. Now the Moleman has been updated to a 30 year old chef who is still trying to make it big as a writer and seeking to fulfil his unrequited love with his childhood sweetheart Pandora, who is now a rich bitch Blair babe. The series is pretty marvellous stuff and shows our hapless hero as a perpetual loser with two children by separate women who have both foisted their offspring on Ade. His parents have split up and found solace in Pandora's parents as their ... more