Scotland’s favourite newspaper comic strip family, The Broons, are set to hit the small screen – but not as a cartoon, according to the Daily Star of Scotland.
In what was labelled as an exclusive yesterday by show business writer, Gavin Docherty, the tabloid says that the famous clan from the Sunday Post will be filmed with real people for a one-hour pilot which is scheduled to be broadcast by STV next year.
According to the Daily Star, if the viewing figures of the pilot prove good enough, it will be developed into a full-blown series. The story also appeared in sister title, the Scottish Daily Express.
Reports Docherty: “The pilot is being made by London-based Baby Cow Productions, the company owned by Steve Coogan whose recent hits include Gavin & Stacey and The Mighty Boosh.
“Award-winning writer, John Rooney, will adapt a script with Morris Heggie, the historian at DC Thomson, the Dundee publishing company.
“The whole family from 10 Glebe Street – Paw and Maw Broon, Granpaw, Hen, Daphne, Joe, Maggie, Horace, The Twins and The Bairn – will be brought life in the one-hour pilot.”
allmediascotland reported last month that DC Thomson has launched a global marketing campaign to cash in on merchandising opportunities during next year’s 75th anniversary of The Broons and Oor Wullie – including the launch of an official Broons tartan.
The Sunday Post had reported: “The famous comic characters are getting ready to step out of the pages of The Sunday Post and into the hustle and bustle of the commercial world. Number 10 Glebe Street is officially open for business.”
The two comic strips, originally drawn by Dudley D Watkins, made their first appearance in The Sunday Post on March 8, 1936.
Pointed out the Sunday Post: “Companies have wanted to use the characters to promote and endorse their products for years but until recently the only products outside the pages of The Sunday Post have been the annuals.”
The Broons annual first appeared in 1939, followed by Oor Wullie in 1940. They combine to sell around 100,000 copies a year.
