Frustrated BBC licensing payers have dismissed the new adaptation of Jules Verne’s Around The World In 80 Days.
The eight-part adaptation starring David Tennant as globetrotting Phileas Fogg launched on Boxing Day, but a series of socially conscious tweaks to the legendary tale left viewers choking on their turkey sandwiches.
One notable departure from Verne’s original 1872 text sees Passepartout, Fogg’s loyal valet, played by a black actor – French star Ibrahim Koma.
Not happy: A new adaptation of Jules Verne classic Around The World In 80 Days has been dismissed as ‘woke nonsense’ by furious BBC license payers
Elsewhere Detective Fix gets a modern-day makeover, with French actress Leonie Benesch playing aspiring journalist and full-time feminist Abigail ‘Fix’ Fortescue.
However, the revised version didn’t go down well among fans. Many were quick to voice their dissatisfaction on social media.
One disgruntled Twitter user raged, “More wokenonsense from the Beeb” – Passepartout was black in the 1873 novel – Go woke, go bankrupt (nothing else again for black people, btw) – I can’t bear to watch history being rewritten even though it’s fiction.
A second added: ‘I really liked the first two episodes of #AroundTheWorldIn80Days and David Tennant is a national treasure. However, it shouldn’t read “original screenplays loosely basing on characters and storylines imagined by Jules Verne” rather than “adapted from the book”.
Speak out! The novel’s modern version didn’t go down well with readers, so many took to social media to vent their frustrations.
Quite a difference: The new series features black actor Ibrahim Koma as valet Passepartout, while Detective Fix is transformed into aspiring journalist and full-time feminist Abigail ‘Fix’ Fortescue, played by Leonie Benesch
Another disappointed viewer said, “I began to watch the television series “Around The World in 80 Days”. It was one of my favorite books as a child.
“I had expected to be shown the adventures of an eccentric Edwardian gentleman, but the story presented me with something that was more relatable than the original.
While a fourth added: ‘What a total load of s**t was Around The World in 80 Days!’
Others were kindrer, and one fan posted: “An adaptation that makes you wonder about the title and casting.” We can’t understand the critics whose negative review nearly put us off.
“We enjoy the richness of the characters, and it’s a victory for the calm, competent man.”
The new BBC series has big fans
All changes: (L to R) Leonie Beensch, David Tennant, and Ibrahim Koma at Around The World In 80 Days
Leading man Tennant previously criticised central character Phileas Fogg for representing ‘alarming’ traditions of the British Empire.
Discussing the swashbuckling traveller, Tennant, 50, told Radio Times: ‘In many ways Phileas Fogg represents everything that’s alarming and peculiar about that old sense of British Empire.
‘Potentially, it’s a story about an England that should elicit very little sympathy.’
Divisive: Leading man Tennant previously criticised central character Phileas Fogg for representing ‘alarming’ traditions of the British Empire
Tennant is also featured alongside Ty (his 19-year old son he adopted in 2012).
He said: ‘He plays a 19th-century New York hoodlum and manages to make everything cool. I can’t identify with that, because at 19 I was so far from cool.’
John Whittingdale (then media minister) announced that public service broadcasters must carry British-themed shows.
He mentioned series like Downton Abbey and Top Gear as examples. Tennant was the Time Lord in these shows between 2005-2010.
Opinion: ‘Potentially, it’s a story about an England that should elicit very little sympathy,’ he said
Tennant commented on this topic: “Is there any inherent criticism within the plea for more Britishness?” Was Britishness a reference to programmes made in Britain or programs with a political perspective?
“Is this a plea for artists to show more sympathy towards the government? What makes the government feel like they deserve more sympathy?
“Perhaps they should be asking themselves that question, instead of trying to put it on the TV industry.”