Worzel Gummidge fans were left terrified as they watched BBC‘s Christmas reboot of the 80s classic on Thursday evening.
The two-part revival follows the story of foster children John and Susan, who arrive in the peaceful village of Scatterbrook and embark on an adventure with the scarecrow after discovering him in the legendary Ten Acre Field.
And while the series takes inspiration from the original sitcom, viewers found Mackenzie Crook’s portrayal of the character much scarier than the late Jon Pertwee’s edition, comparing the talking mannequin to famous villain Freddy Krueger.
Scary: Worzel Gummidge fans were left terrified as they watched BBC’s Christmas reboot on Thursday, (L, Mackenzie Crook as Worzel) – comparing him to Freddy Krueger (R, 1984)
The first episode, The Scarecrow of Scatterbrook, opens with John (Thierry Wickens) and Susan’s (India Brown) journey to Scatterbrook, where they stay with Mr Braithwaite (Steve Pemberton), who is left surprised about their arrival.
Adding a modern touch to the classic, the young boy documents his new home on his iPhone, before asking his foster parent for a WiFi code.
The children are then seen exploring the Ten Acre Field where they first spot Worzel. As they prepare for their first night of sleep, John discovers that he’s lost his mobile device, which he accidentally drops in the field.
Reassuring her younger sibling, Susan cheekily says: ‘We’ll survive, it’ll be like the olden days in the 90s.’
Eek! While the series takes inspiration from the original sitcom, viewers found Mackenzie’s portrayal of the character much scarier than the late Jon Pertwee’s edition
Anyone seen Aunt Sally? Jon famously played the lead in the 70s (pictured with Una Stubbs as Aunt Sally)
Updated: In the new series, Worzel displays his frayed and wrinkly skin, a slight change to the character’s straw-like visage (Jon pictured R in the late 70s/early 80s)
Plot: The two-part revival follows the story of foster children John and Susan, who arrive in the peaceful village of Scatterbrook and embark on an adventure with the scarecrow
The kind scarecrow retrieves John’s iPhone from the field and returns it to his home, scaring the child on arrival.
Once introduced to Susan, the group bond as they enjoy a tour of the field in the kid-friendly series before sneaking into a museum, where Worzel reunites with his love-interest Aunt Sally (Vicki Pepperdine).
The storyline addresses environmental problems such as global warming as the trio help ensure the field’s late harvest arrives.
Viewers decided to focus their attention on the scarecrow’s frayed and wrinkly appearance, with one joking fans will experience ‘nightmares’ after watching the show.
Portrayal: Mackenzie writes, directs and stars in the revival, which comes to BBC One in two hour long films (pictured right earlier this month)
Terror: Viewers decided to focus their attention on the scarecrow’s new appearance, with one joking fans will experience ‘nightmares’ after watching the show
Taking to Twitter, a viewer wrote: ‘As a young lad, Worzel used to terrify me, especially when he pulled off his head. I’m 36 and watching it now. Absolutely s******g my pants.’
‘Looks more like Freddy Kruger. They’ll be some nightmares tonight. #WorzelGummidge’ [sic], another agreed.
A third added: ‘The @bbc #WorzelGummidge looks a bit like Freddy Krueger’. while a fourth shared: ‘Why does Mackenzie Crook’s Worzel Gummidge look like Freddie Kruger. F*****g terrifying and I am 32.’
‘F**k me!! Worzel becomes Freddy Kruger!! Scary s***!! #WorzelGummidge’, a scared viewer tweeted.
‘Who are you?’ The new show opens with John and Susan’s journey to Scatterbrook, where they stay with Mr Braithwaite, who is left surprised about their arrival
In the zone: Adding a modern touch to the classic, the young boy is seen documenting his new home on his iPhone, before asking his foster parent for a WiFi code
Oh no! As they prepare for their first night of sleep, John discovers that he’s lost his mobile device, which he accidentally dropped in the field
Unwind: Reassuring her younger sibling, Susan cheekily says: ‘We’ll survive, it’ll be like the olden days in the 90s’
Ah! The kindly scarecrow then retrieves John’s iPhone from the field and returns it to his home, scaring the child on arrival
Others praised actor Mackenzie, 48, for adapting the series for a new generation: ‘Already in love with #WorzelGummidge and his beautiful face. How people can find him scary or nightmarish is beyond me.’
‘I love Mackenzie Crook’s south country accent. So sweet!!! #WorzelGummidge @Worzeltv’, another added.
A third enthused: ‘I think this new #WorzelGummidge is doing a good job.’
‘#WorzelGummidge I still think the 80s version was the best. But I suppose this is for a new generation’, another shared.
Another gushed: ‘Just watched Worzel Gummidge. Despite loving the original, I have to say this version was sheer genius – in acting, screenplay, cinematography and balance! Best thing this Xmas!’
Once introduced to Susan, the group bond as they enjoy a tour of the field in the kid-friendly series and sneak into a museum
She’s back! Worzel reunites with the scarecrow’s love-interest Aunt Sally, who was sold to a museum owner in the earlier series
Left to rot: Vicki Pepperdine (L in character) plays Aunt Sally in the reboot (R in 2010)
‘I think that #WorzelGummidge may be the best thing that I’ve seen on telly all year’, more added.
Worzel became a cult classic following its launch in 1979, with 31 episodes spread across a two year run before it went off air in December 1981.
The show, starring Pertwee as Gummidge, Una Stubbs as Aunt Sally and Lorraine Chase as Dolly Clothes-Peg, enjoyed a brief revival in 1987 for the New Zealand based Worzel Gummidge Down Under.
Aired on Channel 4, the series charted Gummidge’s adventures on the other side of the world after his beloved Aunt Sally is sold to a museum owner.
On a mission: The storyline addresses environmental problems such as global warming as the trio help ensure the field’s late harvest arrives
The iconic character made his first TV appearance in BBC series Worzel Gummidge Turns Detective in 1953, with Frank Atkinson taking the titular role some 26-years before Pertwee launched him into public consciousness.
Mackenzie made a name for himself as Gareth Keenan in Ricky Gervais’ classic sitcom The Office before making the transition to film and a recurring role in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
He has also featured in popular TV shows Skins, Merlin and Game Of Thrones. His last TV appearance came in Amazon Prime’s epic historical drama Britannia, in which he plays a druid.
Mackenzie writes, directs and stars in the revival, which comes to BBC One in two hour long films.
They’re fans! Others praised actor Mackenzie for adapting the series for a new generation
On the revived show, the director said: ‘I’m thrilled to be back working with the BBC and many members of the Detectorists team to bring Worzel Gummidge to a new generation of viewers and reintroduce him to old friends.
‘Adapting Barbara Euphan Todd’s books into these two films has been a joy and I’ve completely fallen for her charming, irreverent scarecrow.
‘Fingers crossed for a glorious English summer as we head out to Scatterbrook Farm and Worzel’s Ten Acre Field.’ Michael Palin, Zoe Wanamaker, Steve Pemberton also star in the festive edition.
