Mackenzie Crook wants to make more ‘Worzel Gummidge’ content over the next few years.
The 48-year-old actor – who has written and directed two one-hour films based on Barbara Euphan Todd’s talking scarecrow – has revealed he would love to explore the author’s books further and launch a real revival of the beloved children’s TV character.
He told the Irish News: "There are lots of other characters in the books that I’d like to bring out.
"There’s lots of madcap, fun adventures to be had. Ideally, I’d like to be doing this for the next two/three years."
The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ star admitted there were challenges when it came to bringing Worzel back to life on the small screen, and he didn’t want the scarecrow to become "creepy".
He added: "I was worried; get it slightly wrong and he looks creepy. But at the same time, he’s a scarecrow – he’s meant to be scary, to crows. He’s got to be likeable.
"We went through various different tests and the first time I tried it all on, I found his voice straight away.
"It’s funny, improvising is not my thing, but when we were filming, one day a bunch of primary school kids came in to watch and I went over, and I was able to interact and talk to them as Worzel, and I’ve never been able to do that before. So that was a lovely thing."
The 1979 ITV children’s show – starred the late Jon Pertwee as the title scarecrow until it ended in 1981 – is set to make a Christmas comeback on December 26 and 27.
The original appeared on screens for a further two years on Channel 4 in the UK, but in 1995, Worzel bid farewell in a one-off special for ITV, celebrating 40 years of the channel.
The new series will include CGI to make Worzel’s interchangeable head really look like a turnip and to give him butterflies in his beard, as well as to help deal with topical green issues in the story lines.
Mackenzie Crook teases more Worzel Gummidge after Christmas specials
