Children's book rewritten for TV to avoid controversy

THE Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson has revealed she had to rewrite a key scene in one of her stories because it was too controversial for the BBC, which is to air an animated version on Christmas Day.

- BY MARK JEFFERIES

The Scarecrows' Wedding was rewritten to remove a smoking scene

Millions are expected to watch The Scarecrows' Wedding, the 13th in a series of festive TV adaptations of Julia's stories with illustrator Axel Scheffler.

The half-hour animated special features an all-star voice cast, with Gavin and Stacey actor Rob Brydon voicing Reginald Rake, Hamnet actress Jessie Buckley as Betty O'Barley, and The Paper star Domhnall Gleeson as Harry O'Hay.

The story, about scarecrows Betty and Harry planning a wedding to remember, will be narrated by Slow Horses actress Sophie Okonedo.