Malory Towers Series 4, episode 1 will air on CBBC and BBC iPlayer on 8 May 2023
Darrell Rivers (Ella Bright) and the gang return to Malory Towers, for what Darrell’s sure will be their best year yet! They’re fourth-formers now, at the top of the Lower School (years 1-4), with all sorts of new responsibilities and privileges. And most exciting of all, Darrell’s little sister Felicity (April V Woods) is joining the school…
But Felicity has her own plans for striking out on her own, having fun and making friends –which puts her and new best friend June Johns (Edesiri P Okpenerho)(a very bad influence!) on a collision course with Darrell, who has been newly-appointed as Head of Lower School.
Darrell’s brimming with pride at the responsibility of her new position. She hopes she’s conquered her terrible temper, but with the one person who really knows how to trigger it, she’s at risk of losing her self-control –her headship –and worst of all –her sister’s loyalty and love…
Alongside Felicity and June, Series 4 also welcomes their new first year classmates Clarissa Carter (Amy Roerig), inseparable twins Connie (Kimia Lamour) and Ruth Batten (Aviella Burch), and ‘know-it-all’ Susan Heather (Ava Azizi). Whilst familiar faces return with Darrell in the Fourth Form, including Sally Hope (Sienna Arif-Knights), Alicia Johns (Zoey Siewert), Gwendoline Mary Lacey (Danya Griver), Mary-Lou (Imogen Lamb), Irene (Natasha Raphael), Jean (Beth Bradfield), Bill (Amelie Green), Ron Gilson (Jude Harper-Wrobel), Mr Parker (Jason Callender), Mam’Zelle Rougier (Geneviève Beaudet), Matron played by Ashley McGuire (This Is Going To Hurt, Angela Black, Jack and the Beanstalk: After Ever After, This Country), and Jennifer Wigmore (Adult Adoption, Y: The Last Man, Anne, Impulse, Designated Survivor), who reprises her role from Series 1 of Malory Towers, as Headteacher Miss Grayling.
Malory Towers Series 4, episode 1 will air on CBBC and BBC iPlayer on 8 May 2023, with 2 episodes a week culminating in a double-bill finale on the 13 June.
Meet the cast and characters of Malory Towers series 4
Darrell Rivers (Ella Bright)
Series Four sees Darrell appointed as Head of Lower School. Preparing for the school certificate as well as being a responsible (and fun!) leader presents Darrell with a fresh set of challenges.
Darrell also welcomes her younger sister, Felicity, to Malory Towers and wants to give her sister the best possible experience, but needs to learn that her sister has to make her own way.
Darrell also keeps her famous temper at bay when faced with Alicia’s cheeky cousin, June Johns. As a fourth former and Head of Lower school – she is a role model now.
Interview with Ella Bright
What can we expect from Malory Towers Series 4?
You’ll be introduced to many new characters. The episodes are filled with exciting new opportunities and responsibilities for the girls, plus interesting relationships develop between some of the characters. And, of course, more mischief, fun and adventures!
Darrell’s now Head of Lower School; how do you think Darrell has grown since starting at Malory Towers?
Darrell has grown tremendously since starting at Malory Towers. She has always had a strong moral compass, but her temper would often get in the way. She still loves to have fun, but she has matured through the years, and she takes her responsibilities and schoolwork seriously. She continues to work hard to control her fiery temper, and she wants to be a good role model for the Lower Form
What was it like working with the new cast members? And getting to spend more time with April Woods, who plays Darrell’s little sister Felicity?
The new cast members have brought so much joy and excitement to the set. Getting to work with each of them has been such a pleasure, as they’re so young but incredibly talented – and hilarious. April is amazing and it’s been an honour getting to work with her side by side. I miss my little sisters when I’m away filming, so playing April’s on-screen sister feels very comforting and natural.
What was your favourite moment from filming this series?
We got really into playing card games together this series (cheat being our favourite). Every chance we got, we’d step off set and resume a rather competitive – but equally fun – game of cards.
Which Malory Towers character would you want to take with you if you were hunting for pirate treasure?
If I were hunting for pirate treasure, I’d like to take both the Johns girls with me! Alicia and June have serious dedication and are big risk-takers, so they’d ensure that we would have a great adventure. We’d definitely find the treasure at the end because the Johns don’t stop until they get what they want.
What do you hope audiences will take away from this series?
I hope that the audience falls in love with the First Formers, as we all have. What makes Malory Towers such a special show is the power of friendship. It runs deep through all the seasons and I hope that message continues to resonate in series four.
Gwendoline Mary Lacey (Danya Griver)
This series, Gwen wants to find an ‘appropriate’ beau and get through the School Certificate. Like Darrell, she wants a little sister for unconditional admiration and cultivates Clarissa for this role – even more so when she realises Clarissa is The Right Honourable Clarissa Carter. But in true Gwen style her self-deception, vanity and laziness trips her up.
She learns a few life-lessons along the way when she has her romantic encounter, gets caught up in the birth of a child in the San and has a first-hand experience with a WWII grenade!
Interview with Danya Griver
What can we expect from Malory Towers Series 4?
It’s just excellent! There’s still that warm sense of nostalgia and escapism. It’s fun, vibrant and full of drama to look forward to a surprise marriage, a dramatic birth, and Gwendoline gets herself in an emotional tangle with an unexpected romance!
How do you think Gwen has grown since starting at Malory Towers and can you tell us about Gwen’s budding romance which is on the cards this series.
Gwen has grown and developed a lot since Form One, and it’s been an absolute pleasure for me to grow up with her. Her sense of morals and understanding of true friendship is progressing. There is a romance this season, which completely took me by surprise – I think Gwen has, as always, learned a valuable lesson from that.
What was it like working with the new cast members? Especially Amy Roerig who plays Clarissa, a first former that Gwen takes a shine to?
The new cast members have been a joy to work with. We’ve all bonded well and it’s great to have dual story lines which overlap at times. Having different year groups makes Malory Towers feel like a real school on set and an integrated family off set. As for Amy Roerig, Gwen isn’t the only one who’s taken a shine to her – I think she’s wonderful! Amy is so talented, and I’ve really enjoyed working with her and all the young cast. They’ve become little siblings.
What was your favourite moment from filming this series?
I absolutely love every minute of filming Malory Towers; the experience is truly special to me. I’m always so grateful to learn from our talented directors Bruce McDonald and Tracey Rooney, whilst making wonderful memories with my best friends. This year, filming the Christmas special has certainly been a highlight…Gwendoline’s family life is explored in greater detail, and it was so enjoyable to learn more about my character as she grows. I really hope the viewers enjoy the special.
Which Malory Towers character would you want to take with you if you were hunting for pirate treasure?
If I were hunting for treasure, Darrell’s tenacious nature and logical thinking paired with Alicia’s shrewd tactics and passion would be a perfect combination.
What do you hope audiences will take away from this series?
I hope that the viewers can take away a feeling that they are not alone. We’re all growing up together and experiencing new problems, feelings, and situations.
Felicity Rivers (April V Woods)
Felicity’s dream of being a Malory Towers girl has finally come true. Warm and kind-spirited, she’s ready to follow in her big sister’s footsteps and become a pupil Malory Towers will be proud of.
Felicity is used to being in Darrell’s shadow, and is more of a follower than a leader, at first. But she is seen by the other First Formers as a strong and dependable member of the class. She befriends Alicia’s younger cousin, June Johns, which threatens her relationship with Darrell when their adventurous energy gets the better of them.
Interview with April V Woods
What can we expect from Malory Towers Series 4?
It’s a very exciting series. There are a lot of adventures, from pranks, as per usual, to being stuck in a cave. There’s sibling rivalry and drama, but the girls always overcome it.
How much does it mean to Felicity to be a Malory Towers girl? How does her relationship with Darrell change now that Darrell is Head of Lower School?
In previous series, we’ve seen Felicity very excited about going to Malory Towers. When she joins Malory Towers, she’s looking forward to getting up to stuff with her sister, but then Darrell becomes Head of Lower School. Having her sister there makes it more special, but she’s stuck choosing between her best friend and her sister – she can’t tell her sister when she’s doing fun or naughty things.
What was it like working with the new cast members, especially Edesiri Paula Okpenerho, who plays Felicity’s best friend June? And what was it like getting to spend more time with Ella Bright, who plays Darrell?
I love all the cast members. When we got home from set every day, we would all hang out together. We’re still very close and message on the group chat all the time. Edesiri, Ella and I are like siblings. Most of our scenes were together, so we spent a lot of time with each other- I really enjoyed being with them because we have lots of inside jokes – it was great fun. Edesiri and I speak every day.
What was your favourite moment from filming this series?
I loved all of it. Messing around and laughing in between takes was so much fun. I really enjoyed filming the pool scene. It was very cold, but I really enjoyed jumping into the water! Meeting a snake and seeing old fashioned cars was a highlight too.
Which Malory Towers character would you want to take with you if you were hunting for pirate treasure?
Felicity would be great. She has really good ideas, but she doesn’t always follow through with them because she’s very nervous. Whereas June will always go with the ideas. She would say, “we ARE doing this”. She’s very determined.
What do you hope audiences will take away from this series?
It’s set in the 1940s and 1950s, so obviously people didn’t have phones or social media. The audience, especially young children, will see that you don’t have to have electronics to have fun. These girls get up to so many adventures – I would love to attend Malory Towers, even if I didn’t have my phone with me. It’s old fashioned but very fun.
Alicia Johns (Zoey Siewert)
Alicia returns to Malory Towers after a year of ice-skating in Canada. Like Darrell, she also has family joining the school (June Johns), but she can see through her cheeky, headstrong cousin.
Alicia continues to be the instigator of fun among the older girls, but now she is in the fourth form, she needs to step up and take responsibility.
Interview with Zoey Siewert
What can we expect from Malory Towers Series 4?
Lots of new characters that you will love, as well as – of course – more pranks, adventures, and mysteries!
Alicia and the Fourth-Formers now have more responsibility, and exams. How do you think Alicia has grown since starting at Malory Towers?
Alicia has grown a lot since the beginning. For example, because of all the new First-Formers, she has to uphold her prankster title, but also set examples for all the little ones – especially her cousin, June.
What was it like working with the new cast members, especially Edesiri Paula Okpenerho, who plays Alicia’s little cousin, June?
Getting to work with so many new girls has been a really fun experience, especially getting to be mentors to them on and off set. They are all so talented, and it’s crazy to think that we were just like them when we started. Getting to work with Edesiri is fun because her character is like a mini-Alicia! It’s cool to see how she plays that, and how it ties into the relationship that they have.
What was your favourite moment from filming this series?
My favourite moment was when we were all reunited and joined by the new young cast. That was a very special moment, and you could feel the energy and magic of all of us being together again.
Which Malory Towers character would you want to take with you if you were hunting for pirate treasure?
I think every Malory Towers character has strengths that would really help in finding treasure. But I think, knowing Alicia’s jokester tendencies, I’d say anyone who could keep Alicia focused and in line would be best.
What do you hope audiences will take away from this series?
I hope the audience will take away that you have to learn to balance making new friends, while learning that you can be role models for younger girls, even though you’re still learning yourself. No one is perfect, but you can always ask for help – no matter what. That’s something most of us older girls got the privilege of experiencing this year.
I’m personally so grateful to have younger girls I can be a role model to and whom I consider family, as well as having my best friends from past series to experience that with. We have become close both on and off screen, and I think that chemistry of real friendship is part of the magic of Malory Towers.
June Johns (Edesiri P Okpenerho)
June Johns is her cousin Alicia – turned up to the max. She is brazen, determined, clever, mischievous and cheeky with a hankering for adventure. Her reckless behaviour gets the first form into trouble, but everything seems to be water off a duck’s back to her.
She befriends Felicity and is set to have greater adventures than Darrell and Alicia had in the first form. She is a constant obstacle for Darrell in her role as Head of Lower School, but can she make the famous Darrell Rivers blow her top?
Interview with Edesiri Okpenerho
What can we expect from Malory Towers Series 4?
You can expect a lot of laughter, a whole lot of new faces and being taught new lessons because there are so many lessons to be taught.
Had you read or watched Malory Towers before joining the cast?
I read the books when I was six or seven years old. I didn’t know that there was a TV series but when I found out, I watched it immediately with my brother and we became ultimate fans. Then, my mum joined in, and we would all watch is as a family.
How would you describe your character, June? What are her relationships like with Alicia, Darrell and Felicity?
June is chaotic and fun. There are some parts of her that you won’t like – she’ll be chaotic and not know the consequences, and she’s willing to get other people in trouble just to save herself. She’s good at keeping secrets though!
June and Alicia’s relationship is a strange one. Because they’re cousins, they don’t talk much. The only reason they talk is when June is curious about what Alicia is doing, or when she wants to join in with her. June’s relationship with Felicity is really strong but unfair because June always takes control and defines good versus bad, then always chooses bad.
She doesn’t ask Felicity for her opinion. June and Darrell are a bit of a back and forth. There are scenes where they start to understand each other, but there are scenes where they’re glaring at each other in a bad way and plotting against each other to get the others in trouble – and it’s all because of Felicity.
What was it like getting to know the cast?
The older cast were so welcoming – they didn’t even know you and they would come up to hug you and say, “welcome to the Malory Towers family”. It was like we were their younger siblings suddenly. With my age castmates, it’s like we’re sisters. We tell each other all our secrets. After filming, sometimes we would play football in the field, sometimes we would just talk and talk for hours.
What was your favourite moment from filming this series?
I think it was working with a snake. His name was Miguel. He was so squirmy and always moving. I thought I was going to drop him at one point, and I got so scared!
Which Malory Towers character would you want to take with you if you were hunting for pirate treasure?
Probably either Sally or Felicity. Felicity would be great to go on an adventure with. She’d always want to make you happy and tag along with you. Sally wants you to be happy, but she wants to get to the point. She’d be nice and fun but stern and firm.
What do you hope audiences will take away from the series?
The audience will enjoy seeing everyone getting along and being a family. Even if you haven’t known each other for too long, you can always bond. There will be some bumps along the way, but the Malory Towers girls always stick together. I think that’s a lovely thing to know.
Meet the Malory Towers creatives and crew
Jo Sargent – Executive Producer
Why do you think Malory Towers is so popular amongst young people and families?
Malory Towers shows young people, specifically young women, who are really empowered and dynamic, which is a huge draw for younger viewers. The young characters really drive the action. Malory Towers has positive storylines about friendship, rivalry, and the pressures, but also the exuberant fun, of school life, which audiences of all ages can relate to and enjoy.
We also know that many parents watching will have read the books when they were younger, recalling them with huge affection, and are so keen to pass on that love of the Malory Towers ethos to their own children, or even just experience it again for themselves.
How did producing series 4 differ from the last? Was it easier without lockdown restrictions or were there other challenges?
The most notable difference from the previous series was bringing in a new class of First-Formers. This meant working with the head writers, Rachel Flowerday and Sasha Hails, on looking at characters who appear in the books and developing them into new, younger Malory Towers pupils.
It was exciting going through the audition process to find a wonderful group of brilliant young performers to work alongside the established actors. We are sure that the audiences will love the new characters just as much as they have taken the original cast to their hearts.
There is also the creative challenge of finding new, fresh stories when working within a precinct drama, not least after producing 39 episodes across series one to three. Malory Towers is quite an enclosed world – we don’t follow the girls or the teachers into the wider world beyond the school buildings and grounds (some beaches excepted), which does put a lot of pressure on the writing team to create new storylines – although, it’s a challenge to which they have risen with great skill and enthusiasm!
Like you have done with Malory Towers, why do you think it’s important to adapt for modern audiences? Enid Blyton was brilliant at creating characters and situations that resonate fully with modern readers, which is one reason her books have lasted so well and are still hugely popular. Nobody would deny, however, that some of her writing contains social and cultural views that are no longer representative of contemporary opinion, and it’s only right that a dramatisation adjusts the work to reflect current social mores.
The television audience watches Malory Towers to see points of connection with the past, but they respond to storylines about friendship, loyalty and the pupil-teacher dynamic that have a wholly modern relevance. Malory Towers has undergone a particular, often feminist, re-evaluation in recent years with its depiction of a powerful female-centric world, and the TV series reflects that cultural approach.
But the period element is important – it’s about finding a balance between the warmer, nostalgic glow of the original Blyton world and the lived-experiences of the modern viewer.
Darrell and her classmates are reaching their teens, and facing new responsibilities, exams and even budding romance – what has been your favourite part of seeing these characters grow up?
I’ve enjoyed watching Darrell and her friends grow up in so many ways – seeing them become more confident young women is great, but also seeing how they retain their vulnerabilities and their flaws, as well as their virtues, is both interesting dramatically and of real value to the viewers. These are 7 rounded, complex and very real characters; the experiences they go through and any lessons they learn become very relatable to the audience.
We’ve been fortunate, through three series and moving into the fourth, to explore these characters in great depth. If I had to choose just one moment from series four, however, I think it would be seeing one of the characters’ first kiss. It’s so beautifully handled by the cast and the director and is just a very special scene. I know the audiences are going to respond to that scene with real enthusiasm and interest.
What were the challenges involved with bringing in a whole new class of Malory Towers First-Formers for this series?
The original cast have made such a big impact on the audiences and set extremely high standards in performance, so the bar was very high to find a new group of younger actors to take on their share of the storylines. Luckily, through working with the UK casting director, Rob Kelly, we have discovered some exciting new talent, who will not only shine in series four, but will continue the Malory Towers experience through future series.
From a story perspective, it is a challenge not to repeat stories or character traits from earlier episodes. Also, it’s important to keep a narrative focus through the series when working with a bigger cast of characters. The writers need to weave the First-Formers’ school adventures with those of the Fourth Formers – so we have Darrell working with her younger sister Felicity and Alicia working with her young cousin, June, to carry us through series four.
What has the new young cast added to the series?
Having younger and older casts working together has enabled us to tell different stories from earlier series that are very relatable to a wider audience. For example, with Darrell and Felicity, we can look at what it means to have a sister at school, and so explore sibling rivalry. We can look more at the relationships between younger and older children.
Should you look up to older pupils, however they behave? How do you act as responsible role models for younger pupils when you have a lot of pressures in your own lives? Younger viewers, particularly, will have more direct points of relationships to the new First-Formers.
While it’s important to have the aspirational aspect of young viewers watching stories about older pupils, they also need connection to momentous events in a young person’s life, such as starting a new school and making new friends for the first time.
David Collier – Producer
Why do you think Malory Towers is so popular amongst young people and families?
Most viewers have been in situations similar to those experienced by the girls at Malory Towers – the sometimes complex emotional situations when you’re finding out about yourself, but also the sheer fun of being young and having a laugh with a group of mates at school. This shared experience provides a perfect basis for a show that appeals to all.
But there is also the adventure storyline running through each series that’s appealing to viewers – the search for missing treasure, the impact of stolen art works, the threat of the school closing – which gives the production real narrative scale, as well as the important explorations of more personal situations.
Like you have done with Malory Towers, why do you think it’s important to adapt for modern audiences?
Malory Towers is a period drama, but it’s not set in aspic. There are elements of the post-War world that audiences love to watch, and which are very different from their lives now – for example, the girls not having any mobile phones or computers, people still living with rationing, the outfits the teachers wear – and we shouldn’t ever lose those qualities, but we are essentially producing an exciting, thoughtful, emotionally powerful piece for a contemporary audience, not providing an historical comment on British society in the late 1940s. All good dramatic adaptation uses the prism of the past to explore situations that are relevant to audiences watching now (and living life now, not remembering some distant past). Malory Towers is part of that TV and film tradition.
Darrell and her classmates are reaching their teens, and facing new responsibilities, exams and even budding romance – what has been your favourite part of seeing these characters grow up?
It’s been good to see that as the characters grow and develop, they never lose a true generosity of spirit. Through all the dramas and tensions, and the exciting clashes between some of the girls on screen, at heart they care and look out for one another. In a way, what’s so aspirational about Malory Towers, and why it’s so popular with viewers, is that the girls never lose their warm enthusiasm and support for their classmates.
The show offers such a positive depiction of growing up; as you get older you gain more compassion, empathy and understanding. You can see this in real life with the young performers; they are an extraordinary and positive group of young women. Looking more particularly at series four, it has been really interesting and moving to follow Irene’s Jewish cultural background, and explore a side of the character that we haven’t seen before.
What were the challenges involved with bringing in a whole new class of Malory Towers First-Formers for this series?
Malory Towers is an international co-production, so the young people and families need to be clear up front what is involved in the shoot. There’s a five-week shoot in the UK and a seven-week shoot in Canada, so you have the challenge of ensuring that all the young cast are sufficiently confident to spend time away from friends and family, as well as taking them all through the practicalities of working in two countries – in terms of passports and visas and, during school terms, working with the tutor on set, covid restrictions. Luckily, the young actors and their families and agents have been incredibly supportive of the production, and we are fortunate to work with very good chaperones and tutors who, in turn, support the cast.
What has the new young cast added to the series?
The new cast has added a great new energy, and a different way of looking at the world, to the equally wonderful established cast. We have twins for the first time, which adds a particularly interesting dynamic; there’s a young pupil with health issues; and another who is shaped by a difficult family situation. It’s good to show the audience how various characters view the world in their own, individual way, and the new cast widens these different perspectives.
The viewers will appreciate that you need to know a person’s full story before you can really understand what they think and how they act. It’s important for younger viewers to see that the older girls have to learn to understand the Firs-Formers, and that compassion and understanding is an ongoing process as you grow up. In that way, Malory Towers empowers younger viewers by showing that the younger characters’ thoughts and feelings are of value and to be respected as much as older characters.
Rachel Flowerday & Sasha Hails – Head Writers
Why do you think Malory Towers is so popular amongst young people and families?
Malory Towers taps into something universal about the difficulties we all face growing up. Its story arcs – about friendship, overcoming challenges, and the struggle to be the best version of yourself – are relatable, no matter your age! Its charm and nostalgia remind adults of their own childhoods, free of the dizzying complications of social media. For younger viewers, the series helps them see the troubles they face afresh, through the prism of the 1940s.
The boarding school scenario is aspirational: our independent-minded girls are looking out for themselves and solving their own problems. Along the way, the solidarity and friendships they forge are everything we wish for ourselves. The glorious setting, with its saltwater pool hewn from the rock, the evocative, historic buildings, and the sun-drenched countryside, captures the imagination and makes Malory Towers a place of both safety and adventure. A place we all want to be.
Like you have done with Malory Towers, why do you think it’s important to adapt for modern audiences?
We think that every TV adaptation both has to capture the spirit of the novel it’s based on and speak to the audience who are watching it; it’s as much about us, and today’s society, as it is about the era in which the book is set. It was our job to dig into Enid Blyton’s brilliant stories and uncover what they had to say about who we are today, so her characters would feel as fresh and relevant on screen as they did on the page in the 1940s. Blyton’s astute psychology still has so much to teach us. Our challenge was to make sure her fictional world was accessible and reflected the equality, diversity, and acceptance that we all want to see, both on our screens and in our society.
Darrell and her classmates are reaching their teens, and facing new responsibilities, exams, and even budding romance – what has been your favourite part of writing these characters as they grow up?
It’s a joy writing for the strengths of our wonderful cast. The girls inspire us with their performances and the detail they bring to their characters. In series four, with the new first-years arriving, we were excited to explore what that means for our older girls – what it is to be an older sister, what it is to step up and become a leader and role model.
It’s wonderful to see how our characters grow, find their voices, and develop their personalities through the challenges the school has to offer. Creating scenarios that would stretch them was joyous and inspiring.
What happens if your parent falls in love with your teacher? How do you navigate your parents divorcing? What happens when you develop feelings for someone for the first time – and it’s the last person you expect? As an older sibling, how do you manage a younger sister who kicks against your authority?
What were the challenges involved with introducing a whole new class of Malory Towers First- Formers?
We were so excited to bring a whole new set of first-formers to Malory Towers. The fifth book only focuses on two first-form girls, but we needed a dorm-full! We loved building a new group of girls using iconic Blyton characters, including Clarissa, and twins Ruth and Connie, who in the novels actually joined Darrell’s year group.
Another challenge was making sure our ‘old girls’ in the Fourth weren’t eclipsed by the new crowd. We had to make both sets of stories equally intriguing, and make sure the two year-groups had lots of cross-over, so we could enjoy them on screen together. It helped hugely to make Darrell our Head of Lower School, as she’s responsible for the new girls 11 settling in. Casting was another challenge because our new girls had to match up to our incredible existing cast. We think our casting director knocked it out of the park.
Tell us about Darrell and Felicity’s relationship this series, and how it’s affected by Felicity coming to Malory Towers and Darrell being Head of Lower School.
Darrell and Felicity are both thrilled when Felicity joins Malory Towers. They love each other so much, and Felicity is so excited to be at the school – what could possibly go wrong? But when Darrell is made Head of Lower School, she realises that she has to be the boss of her sister. They both struggle with that, especially when Felicity’s new best friend is June Johns, Alicia’s brazen, cheeky, madcap prankster of a cousin!
Darrell and June clash terribly – Darrell thinks June is an awful influence on her little sister, and both June and Felicity are constantly in trouble. Darrell wants to tell Felicity who to be friends with, but Felicity isn’t prepared to be told. The sisters learn that Felicity needs to grow into her own person and step out from Darrell’s shadow, no matter how much she loves and admires her big sister.
What do you hope young audiences will take away from this series?
We hope young audiences will take away from this series the message that you can always change. Our main story arcs with June, Darrell, Felicity, Ruth and Connie show us that you should never let anyone label you. Your future is in your own hands, and with determination, ambition, self-belief, resilience, empathy and motivation, you can do anything!
Poppy Gordon Clark – Locations Manager
Why is Hartland Abbey the perfect location for iconic boarding school Malory Towers?
We looked at lots of options and Hartland came across as the right scale. It was used as a boarding school during WW2, so it had the right feel. It’s a stone’s throw from the beach and it’s absolutely stunning. It felt like you could have lots of adventures – the house is big enough to get a little bit lost in, but not too scary and big.
Series four sees some excellent beach scenes – where did you shoot, and what was it like logistically to manage all the girls as well as rising tides?
Filming on the beach is always a challenge. Tides, weather, lots of people around. We shot at two beaches: Trevone, which we’ve used in the previous series, and a beach called Porthcothun, which is where the cave scenes were shot. With logistics, a lot of teamwork, and brave girls, we made it work somehow.
Is it a challenge matching your UK locations with interiors shot in Canada?
We got to choose the house before they built the set, so they had to match the house. We were lucky it was that way round. There was a lot of collaboration between the producers and designer before we shot the first series. We didn’t choose the house until quite late on, so it was challenging for the Canadian team because they didn’t know what they were going to build. It all works, and I think it’s quite seamless.
What has been your favourite location to shoot at for this series?
Always Hartland Abbey, I love it there. The people who own it are amazing, the sun shone this year. It’s a beautiful place to be.
What makes Malory Towers so special?
It’s a great story. It’s different, it’s not a fast-moving show. Kids love it – my kids certainly enjoy it. There’s always an adventure to be had and it’s pure escapism. It’s so sweet, girls getting up to mischief and fun.