The Demon Headmaster (2019)

[thechase]

Nicholas Gleaves (Bodyguard, Coronation Street) will take on the iconic role of The Demon Headmaster for the modern age when the show returns to our screens later this year on CBBC.

The classic drama series was broadcast between 1996 and 1998 and originally starred Terrence Hardiman as the horrifying headmaster with hypnotic powers. Over 20 years later, children will enjoy the same terrifying twists as they watch a group of mismatched kids discover their headmaster is using hypnotism to gain ultimate control of their school.



Gillian Cross, the author of the books the original series was based on, has released a new novel which reveals the Demon Headmaster has become a ‘Super Head’ of an Academy.



Nicholas Gleaves said: “It is an absolute stroke of genius to bring back this iconic series and I feel incredibly lucky to play the role. The Demon Headmaster is a dark magician and I’ve loved bringing the character to life. It’s always an actors dream to play extremes and he is the ultimate villain.”



Cheryl Taylor, Head of Content BBC Children’s said: We all know how compelling and memorable the original Demon Headmaster series was and when we heard that Gillian Cross had created an updated version we thought it was too wonderful a creative opportunity to miss. We’re sure that the fierce battle between the plucky pupils and our manipulative new Demon Head – Nicholas Gleaves – will prove just as hypnotic for all CBBC drama fans.



Writer, Emma Reeves said: “I’m a huge fan of Gillian’s books and of the original 90s BBC show. Terrence Hardiman’s chilling charisma made the role of the Headmaster an unforgettable character. I’m thrilled that Nicholas Gleaves is playing the Headmaster in the new series, he’s a wonderful actor and he’s already terrifying everyone who’s been on set.”



The Demon Headmaster is produced for CBBC by Children’s In House Productions and Spencer Campbell is the Executive Producer.



Told over ten 30-minutes episodes, the show will be available to watch on CBBC and BBC iPlayer.

www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2019/demon-headmaster

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

IS NOTHING SACRED?

This show scared the shit out of me as a kid. I definitely won't be watching it. What a weird choice to bring back.

[dav]

Hm, not sure about the actor. The one from the first series was just perfect as a stereotypical looking teacher. That said, hope it proves to be a good one.

[thechase]

They should bring back Dark Season. That had the most convincing female child Doctor ever...oh, and a rather chubby Kate Winslet.

[FinalGwen]

Looking forward to it, honestly. The original was one of my fave shows as a kid, and while Terrence Hardiman is irreplaceable, I'm more than happy for a new generation of kids to get their own take on it, since the original has definitely aged. Some stuff kind of writes itself, like Octopus Dare as the next Fortnite style online craze?

Also, Joseph Lidster is working on it, a writer who's done some amazing stuff across the Doctor Who universe, with the audio story "Master" being a particular highlight, and also did some great episodes of The Sarah Jane Adventures, so has experience writing for that age group. Should turn out well!

[thechase]

We have an official airdate: October 14th

And the original actor Terrence Hardiman will guest-star in an episode

www.radiotimes.com/news/2019-09-05/demon-headmaster-reboot-terrence-hardiman/

[clifford]

Loved the books. Have no idea if the show was based on the books or vice versa. Show was good too.

[thechase]

Sept 8, 2019 17:15:39 GMT -5 clifford said:

Loved the books. Have no idea if the show was based on the books or vice versa. Show was good too.

The first series was based on the first two books, after that I'm not sure if the next two stories were written as tie-ins to the series or not. One book was skipped entirely.

[thechase]

Start time for the show is 5 PM next Monday. Just a reminder for anyone keen.

[SmashTV]

I remember reading the book as a kid and, while I was 21 when the original show aired, Terrence Hardiman was EXACTLY how I’d pictured the Demon Headmaster. He’s a hard act to follow, but it’s good to see the stories being received by a new generation.

[thechase]

I spent my birthday evening yesterday watching the classic series adaptation of "Prime Minister's Brain"

It was a blast, there's only like three locations in the whole story, and the helicopter green screen is hilariously cheap BBC budget, but it was quite engaging and inventive, as well as patently ludicrous with how Dinah was able to hack into the PM's system. Had a good moral lesson too when the kids had an opportunity to murder the Headmaster at the end and didn't take it.

[thechase]

[thechase]

Yeah, that was a good opener. Right flavour of menace, there's some stakes and cause for concern (Lizzy's mother having an undisclosed illness), a twist with the bully being reminded of his cruller acts and is prompted to commit them again (Blake and the fire alarms), the one thing I took issue with is how easy the Headmaster's username and passwords were...but then, it's miles simpler than the ridiculous code cracking that cracked Number 10's database in "The Prime Minister's Brain"

[thechase]

Nicolas Gleaves was on BBC Breakfast yesterday and talked a bit about the show, the interview would up spoiling a few things for the series

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}The revival is a continuation of the original show, and the original Headmaster will appear in the finale. There is an indication also of a second series

[thechase]

This has been pretty good so far. Third episode added a few new wrinkles to the ongoing attempts to recruit resisters to the Headmaster's control. Some students are perfectly OK with having no choice as long as it makes them better people. Headmaster saving Ethan was interesting, it can be interpreted he only did it to make himself look good with the parents though.

[thechase]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}Lizzie, Angelika and Ethan visiting St. Champions School, Eddy Hare website referencing the events of the original book, the Octopus, a sinister portrait of the old Headmaster, his voice, Blake finally resisting Headmaster control, Tyler meddling with the school play (what is the BBC's obsession with Midsummer Night's Dream?) and lastly the letter with invisible ink and the warning left by DINAH HUNTER

Oh my god, I yelled "YES" so loudly I almost caused my mum to burn herself while she was drinking tea.

[thechase]

Spoiler for episode seven

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}

[thechase]

Season finale aired a few minutes ago, left us with a lot of questions

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}How stupid must that cop have been to want to talk to the Headmaster in the cell at the end? They should have just let him be blown up with the school.

It was great to see the vintage Headmaster again, he's just as devilish as ever, but is he in charge of a whole network of clones or something? Perhaps it was just the one as the current Headmaster did say growing this body took considerable time and effort. Now that his master tried to kill him, he may strike out on his own

[msc]

Well, that was genuinely one of the great TV moments of 2019. They took the shell of a popular kids TV/book series from the 90s and used it to tell important stories to the kids of today, but keeping to the faith of the original. Genuinely great kids TV.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}{SPOILER: CLICK TO SHOW}Terrence Hardiman showing up at the end was just the icing on the cake!

[thechase]

I got the two most recent books in the series for Christmas. Proper pleased with that, I wonder how they'll go about adapting "Mortal Danger?", it's premise seems a bit outside the Beeb's budget.