Judi Dench and Dustin Hoffman star in Roald Dahl’s Esio Trot
Adapted by Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer, the film also stars Richard Cordery as Mr Pringle and James Corden plays the part of the narrator.
BAFTA award winner Hilary Bevan Jones has produced the 1x90” film which is directed by Emmy award-winner, Dearbhla Walsh (Little Dorrit, 2009). “To bring together two of the world’s favourite actors in Judi and Dustin is a dream come true and James Corden in the role of our narrator is a wonderful addition to the cast. Richard and Paul have captured the magic of Roald Dahl’s wonderful tale and I am thrilled that Dearbhla has directed it,” said producer Hilary Bevan Jones.
Richard Curtis has created many successful British films and television programmes.
For Roald Dahl’s Esio Trot he rekindles his partnership with Paul Mayhew-Archer. Together they wrote The Vicar of Dibley, which ran for five seasons and won many comedy awards.
Roald Dahl is one of the most enduring and successful children’s authors ever. To date, his books have sold over 200 million copies and continue to be loved and sold the world over.
Mr Hoppy, played by Dustin Hoffman, is a retired bachelor, who harbours a secret passion for his neighbour, the lovely Mrs Silver, played by Judi Dench. Unfortunately she lavishes all her affection on another... Alfie, her pet tortoise. Mr Hoppy yearns to talk to Mrs Silver but tongue-tied and shy, his attempts always end in disaster. Mrs Silver’s greatest wish is for her tortoise Alfie to grow a little bigger. All seems lost for Mr Hoppy until he has the brightest, most devious of ideas. Will Mr Hoppy's wildly ingenious plot win the love of his lady?
Director Dearbhla Walsh has had international success including winning an Emmy for her direction of the Charles Dickens novel Little Dorrit. Other credits include Funland, The Tudors, Borgia and Talk to Me. Hilary Bevan Jones won an Emmy for the BBC film The Girl in the Cafe, which was also written by Richard Curtis. She recently produced William Boyd’s two part drama Restless and The Escape Artist by David Wolstencroft for the BBC.
