Kizzy is the name given to the 1976 BBC adaptation of Rumer Godden's 1972 novel The Diddakoi (a.k.a. The Gypsy Girl).[1] It starred Vanessa Furst as the title character and was produced by Dorothea Brooking.[2]

Kizzy
Opening title
Based onThe Diddakoi
by Rumer Godden
Written byJohn Tully
Directed byDavid Tilley
StarringVanessa Furst
Anne Ridler
ComposerPeter Gosling
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes6
Production
ProducerDorothea Brooking
CinematographyJohn Turner
EditorBill Wright
Running time30 minutes
Production companyBBC Birmingham
Original release
NetworkBBC1
Release21 January (1976-01-21) –
25 February 1976 (1976-02-25)

It is the story of an orphan traveller or Romani girl called Kizzy, who faces persecution, grief and loss in a hostile, close-knit village community. This is a moving tale of human fallibility and sorrow, but also of strength, courage and redemption.[3]

Cast

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  • Vanessa Furst as Kizzy
  • Anne Ridler as Olivia Brooke
  • Melissa Docker as Prue Cuthbert
  • John Welsh as Admiral Twiss
  • Patrick McAlinney as Peters
  • Lisa Welsford as Elizabeth Oliver
  • Toby Bridge as Clem Oliver
  • Isobel Gordon as Mary Jo
  • Angela Browne as Mrs. Cuthbert
  • Meg Ritchie as Mildred Blount
  • Paddy Ward as Nat
  • Ben Howard as Lumas Doe
  • Michael Wardle as Mr. Blount
  • Betty Hardy as Gran
  • Miriam Margolyes as Mrs. Doe
  • Ernest C. Jennings as Uncle Jess
  • John Udall as BoyO
  • Norah Blaney as Emma Smith
  • Francis Sargent as Albert
  • Seymour Green as Chairman
  • Stella Kemball as Magistrate
  • Mary Sheen as Shop Assistant
  • Gail MacFarlane as Shop Assistant

Adaptations

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The story has also been adapted as a BBC radio drama The Diddakoi.[4] This adaptation features Nisa Cole.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Part One The Wagon (1976)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 3 June 2018.
  2. ^ "Part Six The Bonfire (1976)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021.
  3. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Kizzy (1976)". screenonline.org.uk.
  4. ^ "The Diddakoi". BBC.
  5. ^ "Rumer Godden – The Diddakoi". BBC Radio 4 Extra. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
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