The Children of Green Knowe

Perhaps the greatest thing about portraying Alexander Oldknowe in the 1986 BBC Children's Television series 'The Children of Green Knowe' was meeting Lucy M. Boston, who wrote the novel upon which the four-part series was based, and who also wrote 'The River at Green Knowe'. She was a delightful lady, and I remember that we - myself and the other principal cast members - had our photograph taken with her.

Also great to work with Heather Ramsay, who played my mother. She noticed that I was reading Stephen King's awesome 1985 short story collection 'Skeleton Crew' during the making of the series, and recommended the work of acclaimed British horror author Ramsey Campbell. Thanks heaps, Heather!

Great too to work with the very talented Danny Schiller, who played Gabriel, the manic choirmaster. Danny went on to play Snorri the Miserable in Terry Gilliam's hilarious 'Erik the Viking' and also to portray a barrister in the 1992 thriller 'Under Suspicion', which starred Liam Neeson and Laura San Giacomo. And after all these years, I still remember the lyrics of song I sing before the King and his court (by the way, the banquet that you will descry laid out was fireproofed, so no one was game to pick at it!):-

Return, return you happy men/To your own blessed shades again/Lest staying long some new desire/In your cool bosom raise a fire/Like a perfumed gale o'er flowers/Now glide again to your own bowers

Saw Polly Maberly in an episode of 'Frost' in early 2001, and she acquitted herself very well indeed. She has grown into quite the young lady.

As Montague H. Withnail declares in 'Withnail and I', 'Alas! I have little more than vintage wine and memories'. But what memories!

James Trevelyan (Alexander Oldknowe)

I hankered after this amazing drama for years, i had all but episode 3 on VHS and had given up on it being released officially on DVD, so was ecstatic when I found an unofficial copy at raretv.com. Granted, it is not the best quality burned from VHS recordings, but it better than nothing, and i still watch it to this day, and even now at 33 years old it has not lost any of It's magic to me, and my 5 year old son enjoys it too. Mr Christie(Tolly) was kind enough to reply to a message I sent him in relation to the show, he had not been recognised as Tolly since 1988 and told me how much fun he had making the programme. His views echoed those already mentioned by a previous user, that children's drama today failed to live up to the quality seen in those such as Greene Knowe, which is a terrible shame. I talk about this programme even now with my family who also had such affection. Im not sure if this is true,but I have read somewhere that the BBC have not got a copy of the original footage so it would be impossible for a official DVD release like they did with Box of Delights. Has anybody else heard this?

Green Knowe is the most magical series, it has never failed to transfix every child who has ever watched it. Not to mention a family inability to say Burma without three rs! We also don't light a fire, we build up a "great blaze"! We had our almost worn out video put onto DVD which has extended the lifespan a little but is still almost monochrome. Does anyone have a way of getting colour back or have a better version? (If they can do it with Gone with the Wind, surely it can be done for Green Knowe!) There is an on line petition to get the BBC to reissue the film on DVD - we have all filled this in and hope that it will have some effect. There is a very good website which is of the actual Green Knowe house - Hemmingford Grey in Cambridgeshire - which is worth a visit.

I can remember when this programme first aired,right then i knew i was watching something special.For me that was the best Childrens drama serial that the BBC ever made,even better than The Box Of Delights and The Children of Narnia.It seems now that I'm older I've become all nostalgic for the programmes that i watched in my youth,and by reading other comments on this site I'm not the only one ...which is a relief...i thought i was the only one!!James it was really nice to read your experiences on the show,you really must feel so proud of your work and to be linked to such a great programme.I've only watched the programme once and for some reason the BBC never released it on video or DVD,so my memory is slightly vague on all the episodes,but i always remember the old lady telling toby to make a big fire in the house.She did have a certain phrase for this but it escapes me now,too long ago i guess.I have recently found someone who has the episodes on tape,so i should have a copy very soon.I just hope its as good as i remember it to be!!

I am delighted that I am not alone out there in the wilderness. I too, loved the wonderful adaptation of Children of Green Knowe. I have never forgotten it, indeed I have been writing to the BBC for years to ask if they would please re run it, or at least release it on DVD or video. Every man, woman and child should see this enchanting little gem of a series at least once. It captures the true innocence and enjoyment of Christmas as it should be.. simple, and captivating, with a little mystery thrown in. I was lucky enough to watch it the first time with my son, who also loved it. Now I would desperately love to share it with my little girl, and of course to be able to watch it every Christmas and soak up a little of its magic. So, build up the fire Tolly, I would like to hear the story of..The Children of Green Knowe.. Merry Christmas !! :)