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BBC Adapts Beloved Adrian Mole Diary for New Generation
17 Nov
Summary
- BBC commissions 10-part adaptation of Sue Townsend's 'Adrian Mole' series
- Casting search underway for lead role of awkward teen in 1980s Britain
- Adaptation by David Nicholls, producer of acclaimed Netflix series 'One Day'
In November 2025, the BBC announced that it is adapting Sue Townsend's classic 'Adrian Mole' book series into a new 10-part television show. The adaptation will feature a team of acclaimed writers and producers, including Caitlin Moran and Caroline Moran (Raised By Wolves), Dillon Mapletoft and Oliver Taylor (Everyone Else Burns), and Jack Rooke (Big Boys).
The BBC is currently conducting a nationwide casting search for the lead role of Adrian Mole, an awkward teenage boy entering his teens in the early 1980s, before the advent of mobile phones and social media. The series will follow Adrian as he writes a diary about his struggles with spots, his parents' divorce, the torment of first love, and his lack of experience with the female anatomy. In the background, the show will also depict historic events of the era, such as Margaret Thatcher's rule, the Falklands War, and the marriage of Prince Charles and Diana.
Acclaimed writer David Nicholls, whose novel 'One Day' was recently adapted for Netflix, is taking on the role of adapter for the 'Adrian Mole' series. Nicholls, who is just a little older than the titular character, has adored the book since its publication and is excited to bring this "classic piece of comic writing" to the screen.
