Taking The Field
SFX|Holiday Special 2019
MACKENZIE CROOK’S NEW VERSION OF WORZEL GUMMIDGE IS AS MUCH A SPIRITUAL SEQUEL TO DETECTORISTS AS A REMAKE OF THE ’70S SERIES
Dave Golder
Taking The Field

WILLOWY FIGURE IN A military long coat and a massively wide-brimmed hat wanders from a sun-dappled country lane into a golden field of gently rippling wheat. The figure bends to peer at a poppy, staring at it wistfully.

It’s a moment of bucolic serenity entirely at odds with the modern madness just a few feet away. Next to a gate, a huge bustling team of filmmakers armed with cameras and audio gear are beavering away among a nest of cables. Beyond the acres of beautiful fields, out of sight over a ridge on this blustery early summer day, is the M25.

Surprisingly, the shot being prepped won’t feature the willowy figure: the cameras are pointing the other way, at a muddy jeep containing two children and a farmer. When everyone’s ready, the willowy figure abandons its poppy watch and gamely saunters back to the monitors.

Because while the fellow in the hat and the prosthetic mask is indeed the star of this new version of Worzel Gummidge, he’s also its director and writer. This means that Mackenzie Crook, of The Office and Pirates Of The Caribbean fame, often finds himself calling the shots in full costume and make-up. “It’s more surreal for everyone else – this strange creature directing them,” he admits. “I sorta forget after a while, then I’ll walk past a mirror and surprise myself.”

This story is from the Holiday Special 2019 edition of SFX.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the Holiday Special 2019 edition of SFX.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM SFXView All
ANCER MAHAGEMENT
SFX UK

ANCER MAHAGEMENT

WITH A NEW TRILOGY IN SIGHT, WE SPEAK TO THE DIRECTOR OF 28 WEEKS LATER THE ORIGINAL CHILLING SEQUEL TO DANNY BOYLE'S SEMINAL SURVIVAL HORROR

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2024
WHO YA CONNA CALL?
SFX UK

WHO YA CONNA CALL?

BEHIND THE SCENES AT HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS FOR GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
SPEAK OF THE DEVIL
SFX UK

SPEAK OF THE DEVIL

THE DEVIL'S HOUR STRIKES TWICE AS THE GENREDEFYING DRAMA RETURNS

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
SCARRY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK
SFX UK

SCARRY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK

FROM THE RETURN OF EC COMICS TO SCREAM!, THIS YEAR'S HALLOWEEN OFFERS UP HORROR COMICS FOR ALL THE AGES

time-read
9 mins  |
November 2024
UNDEADS REFLECTIONS
SFX UK

UNDEADS REFLECTIONS

NEIL JORDAN ON BRINGING ANNE RICE'S MODERN VAMPIRE CLASSIC TO SCREEN, 30 YEARS ON

time-read
6 mins  |
November 2024
MUNSTER MASH!
SFX UK

MUNSTER MASH!

PRODUCTION HELL, SHOCK RECASTING AND HOTLY CONTESTED AUTHORSHIP. AS THE MUNSTERS CELEBRATE THEIR 60TH ANNIVERSARY, WE UNCOVER HOW THE SPOOKY SITCOM WAS ALMOST DEAD ON ARRIVAL

time-read
10+ mins  |
November 2024
COMING TO AMERICA
SFX UK

COMING TO AMERICA

THE MOGWAI LIVE THE AMERICAN DREAM IN THEIR SECOND CHAPTER, GREMLINS: THE WILD BATCH

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
BEING HUMAN EVOLUTION
SFX UK

BEING HUMAN EVOLUTION

IT MAY HAVE BEEN AN INSTANT HIT, BUT BBC THREE'S DARKLY COMIC DRAMA ABOUT A HOUSE-SHARING VAMPIRE/WEREWOLF/GHOST TRIO HAD A STRANGE JOURNEY TO THE SCREEN, SERIES CREATOR TOBY WHITHOUSE TELLS SFX

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2024
THE MAINE EVENT
SFX UK

THE MAINE EVENT

THE DARK IS RISING IN SALEM'S LOT AS STEPHEN KING'S DEATHLESS TALE RETURNS TO THE SCREEN

time-read
7 mins  |
November 2024
WHY DON'T YOU STAY FOR A BITE?
SFX UK

WHY DON'T YOU STAY FOR A BITE?

THE VAMPIRE COMES HOME AS DIRECTOR EUROS LYN WELCOMES SFX TO HIS NEW DARK COMEDY THE RADLEYS

time-read
9 mins  |
November 2024