BBC 'removes smoking scene' from The Scarecrows' Wedding
The Scarecrows' Wedding writer Julia Donaldson has revealed the BBC has forced her to change a scene involving a character smoking a cigar to fall in with Ofcom guidelines.
The BBC has removed a scene from The Scarecrows' Wedding in case it encourages children to smoke cigars.
The broadcaster is bringing the children's classic - which was written by Julia Donaldson - to life this Christmas with an animated adaptation, but one scene will be altered to fit Ofcom's guidelines.
In the book, a villainous scarecrow called Reginald Rake (Rob Brydon) starts a fire by mistake after lighting a cigar.
Despite another character, Betty O'Barley, telling him that "smoking is bad for you", the BBC is going further, with Reginald toasting marshmallows with a lit match instead.
Speaking at an early screening for the BBC film, author Julia said: "In the book, the fire is started by Reginald Rake through smoking.
"And I thought that was really good – it shows Reginald Rake in a really bad light because he's a baddie."
Production company Magic Light Pictures explained to her that watchdog Ofcom's rules don't allow the depiction of smoking in children's programming unless there is a strong editorial justification.
While the guidelines ban material which "condones, encourages or glamourises" smoking, alcohol or illegal drugs, Julia argued that her book didn't fall under that remit.
She explained: "Betty in the original book says, 'Smoking is bad for you,' and he gets a terrible cough, he starts a fire, so it really shows how bad smoking is.
"But apparently, in the world of children's film, you're not allowed to show anyone smoking."
She wasn't convinced about having to rewrite elements her story for the film, but she came up with a fresh idea to make the scene work.
She said: "I thought they could start the fire by cooking something. Then I thought, marshmallows are pink and white. So I wrote something.
"And I think it works really well like that. I'm sorry, in a way, to lose the smoking but marshmallows do well."
Axel Scheffler, who illustrated the classic book, joked that the chance could still result in some backlash.
He quipped: "I'm now waiting on Boxing Day for thousands and thousands of children in the UK starting fires by roasting marshmallows."
When the book was published in 2014, some parents complained about the smoking scene.
In response, publisher Scholastic said at the time: "We would absolutely agree that smoking should not be shown as a normal, sensible activity in a children's book.
"However, we feel that, in this case, the book really does show smoking in a completely negative light."
The Scarecrows' Wedding will air on BBC One and iPlayer on Christmas Day.
