The BBC has made a four-part series of Lord Of The Flies, scripted by Jack Thorne who co-wrote Adolescence and has also contributed to Skins and Toxic Town among many others. It's a brilliant adaptation which uses the extra time over the classic Peter Brook film very well. Each of the four episodes centres on one of the key characters, including a back-story for some of them. That meant that Jack was portrayed as an arrogant bully in three episodes (as per the original film), but also as a vulnerable boy in the episode focussing on him. The quality of the acting was incredible. Most child actors benefit from being able to bounce off adult actors, but that didn't happen for most of this production.

I'm absolutely captivated by it. The kids are incredible. I've only got one episode to go, and I really don't wanna finish it

Have this recorded currently and looking forward to watching it. Always meant to read the novel as it’s right up my street!

I've taught some students with the book before, so was interested to see this. I do think it was very good for the most part. I like that Jack Thorne turned what was a cut and dry post-colonial war allegory and humanised the characters and made it more contemporary with his insights on masculinity (as he is used to with his past body of work ofc. x).

I really like how we finally got some crucial scenes from the book that were always left out of the film adaptations like the Beast talking to Simon, the boy with a birthmark going missing and the naval officer's speech, and I agree the acting from the boys was much better than previous adaptations and the atmosphere, cinematography and editing really put you in the place of the book.

There were some liberties they took I wasn't a huge fan of (I'll spoiler them just in case people don't know the story)

Spoilers

While I like that they humanised Piggy (including giving him his real name!) and gave him some tender final scenes with Ralph, I felt that not having him die immediately from the boulder loosened the impact it had in the novel. I also wish they'd done a little bit more with the spiritual imagery with Simon. I think they did a really good job with Jack, but not so much Roger, he tended to blend in with Jack's other hunters when he's one of the very worst characters in the book.

Overall, not as good as the book, but definitely a unique take on it and the best adaptation we're likely going to get of it.

I've never got round to reading the book, although I have been in English lessons where they are doing part of it. I'm planning to read it in the summer when I can probably finish it in a day.