Worzel Gummidge is getting remade, and here's your first look of Mackenzie Crook in character

6 June 2019, 10:27 | Updated: 6 June 2019, 10:55

Classic children's TV show Worzel Gummidge is the latest series to get a modern remake.

The series is inspired by the books by Barbara Euphan Todd, and will return as two hour-long films on BBC One.

Mackenzie Crook has written and directed the series, and will also star as the iconic title character, and the first image from the show has been released:

The first 60 minute episode is titled ‘The Scarecrow of Scatterbrook’, and follows two young strangers named Susan and John, who arrive in the village of Scatterbrook.

They soon cross paths with Worzel Gummidge, aka the Scarecrow of Ten Acre Field, who shocks them by coming to life. Worzel himself can't believe it, as he also discovers that the children are not actually fellow scarecrows but humans.

The second episode, ‘The Green Man’, sees the arrival of the title character, the creator of scarecrows who isn't chuffed that Worzel is hanging out with humans.

The Office star Mackenzie Crook said: “I’m thrilled to be back working with the BBC and many members of the Detectorists team to bring Worzel Gummidge to a new generation of viewers and reintroduce him to old friends.

"Adapting Barbara Euphan Todd’s books into these two films has been a joy and I’ve completely fallen for her charming, irreverent scarecrow. Fingers crossed for a glorious English summer as we head out to Scatterbrook Farm and Worzel’s Ten Acre Field.”

More casting details will be announced in the coming weeks.

Crook is best known for playing nerdy Gareth in The Office, and also appeared in several Pirates of the Caribbean movies. In recent years, he created and starred in the BBC sitcom Detectorists.

Worzel Gummidge originally aired on ITV from 1979 to 1981, and starred Jon Pertwee in the title role. Channel 4 later reprised the show in 1987 as Worzel Gummidge Down Under, and was set in New Zealand.