Malory Towers is a historical drama television series based on the book series of the same name by Enid Blyton. The series is a co-production between King Bert Productions in the United Kingdom and WildBrain in Canada.
The first series was released early on BBC iPlayer on 23 March 2020, and later premiered on CBBC on 6 April 2020 in the United Kingdom. In Canada, the show's first series premiered on the Family Channel with a two-part event on 1 July 2020. In the United States, it premiered on BYUtv on 13 September 2020. The third season premiered on 4 July 2022 on CBBC.
Internationally, the series is broadcast on CBC Gem in Canada, ABC Me in Australia, ZDF and KiKA in Germany, Rai Gulp in Italy, e-Junior in the United Arab Emirates, Yle TV2 in Finland, SVT Barn in Sweden, NRK Super in Norway, HBO Max in Scandinavia, Space Power TV and Spacetoon Go in Middle East and HOT in Israel.
In 2022, a fourth series entered production, which began airing on 8 May 2023. A fifth series of an expanded twenty episodes was announced and filmed in 2023, produced entirely in the United Kingdom after interiors were previously filmed in Canada. The sixth series began airing in May 2025, with the seventh and final series released in October the same year.
Contents
Premise
Set in 1940s post-World War II England - beginning in 1947 - the show follows the adventures of 12-year-old Darrell Rivers as she leaves home to attend an all-girls' boarding school and explores a nostalgic world of midnight feasts, lacrosse, pranks, a mystery ghost and lasting friendships. The TV series updates Blyton's post-war period piece for a modern audience with a racially diverse and inclusive cast.
Cast
Main cast
Ella Bright as Darrell Rivers, an intelligent and excitable girl who has recently been expelled from her previous school (St Hilda's- Series 1 Episode 5 The Match). Darrell has word-blindness. She plans to become a medical doctor like her father.
Danya Griver as Gwendoline Mary Lacey, a spoiled and callous girl who has been homeschooled by a Governess her whole life up until enrolling in Malory Towers. Over the series she develops a romantic interest in Ron Gilson. While initially intending to go on to finishing school in Switzerland, by the end of the series after her father falls ill she plans to join the Women's Royal Naval Service.
Zoey Siewert as Alicia Johns (Seasons 1–2; 4–7), a naughty and rebellious Canadian girl who influences Darrell into playing tricks and is interested in sports. Her parents work overseas so she is full-board.
Sienna Arif-Knights as Sally Hope, a mature but moody girl who is unknowingly sick. She later becomes Darrell's best friend and plans to become a nurse.
Imogen Lamb as Mary-Lou Linnet, a naive girl and the youngest of Darrell's form. She is talented at art and develops an interest in becoming a teacher.
Natasha Raphael as Irene Edwards (recurring season 1; main season 2–7), a ditzy but sweet girl who is talented at Music and Maths but struggles with other subjects, and comes from a Jewish family.
Beau Bradfield as Jean Dunlop (recurring season 1; main season 2–7), a mature girl who is intelligent and talented at Lacrosse. She becomes editor of the school newspaper and aims to work as a journalist.
Ashley McGuire as Matron Kathleen (Recurring seasons 1; main seasons 2–4 & 6–7), the Matron of the North Tower girls. Though she is strict, she does mean well. An emergency family situation causes her to leave Malory Towers, but she is later brought back by the girls who have missed her.
Recurring cast
Twinkle Jaiswal as Katherine (Season 1), a strict but fun girl and the Head of First Form.
Saskia Kemkers as Emily (Season 1), an intelligent but private girl.
Hannah Saxby as Pamela (Season 1), an athletic older girl who is later revealed to be a Debutante.
Imali Perera as Miss Potts (Season 1), the kind but strict Maths, Science and Art teacher. She is the First Form mistress.
Christine Horne as Margaret (Season 1), the assistant to Matron Kathleen.
Birgitte Solem (Seasons 2–3) as Miss Elizabeth Grayling, the good-natured Headmistress at Malory Towers.
Edie Whitehead as Georgina Thomas (Season 2), a wealthy girl whose father is quite snobby and mean.
Christien Anholt as Mr. Lacey (Season 3 & Christmas Special; guest seasons 5 & 6), Gwendoline's strict father.
Emily Piggford as Miss Julia Johnson and Jennifer Johnson (Season 3), a pair of twin criminals. Miss Julia Johnson is a trained teacher, but Jennifer Johnson pretends to be her at times.
Bre Francis as Mavis (Season 3), an older girl who is talented at singing.
Charles Jackson as Fred Gilson (Christmas Special–7), Ron's little brother. After being introduced in the Christmas Special Fred is asked to take Ron's place as a gardener at Malory Towers when Ron gets asked to help his uncle and become a fisherman.
Louis Tamone as Mr. Jones (Season 5), Josephine's rich but kind father
Episodes
Production
In July 2019, it was announced in a press release that CBBC and Family Channel had commissioned a TV series adaptation of Enid Blyton's book series Malory Towers. It was also announced that WildBrain would handle international distribution outside the United Kingdom. Sasha Hails and Rachel Flowerday would adapt the series for television with Rebecca Rycroft and Bruce McDonald directing. From DHX Media, Josh Scherba, Anne Loi and Michael Goldsmith are executive producing and Angela Boudreault is producing. From King Bert Productions, Jo Sargent is executive producing and Grainne McNamara is producing.
Principal photography
Principal photography began in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in summer 2019 and later moved to the two South West England ceremonial counties Cornwall (only in the town of Bodmin) and Devon (only at Hartland Abbey), with the latter serving as the exterior location of the boarding school.
Release
CBBC released a teaser trailer on 20 March 2020 with the announcement that the series would premiere on 6 April 2020. The entire first series of episodes was available to view early on BBC iPlayer as of 23 March to viewers in the UK with a TV licence. The first two episodes aired on Family Channel in Canada that 1 July. The second season was also released in its entirety on the BBC iPlayer on 22 November 2021, with broadcasts expected on CBBC in 2022.
Malory Towers began airing on BYUtv on Sundays in America on 13 September 2020. Beginning with the Christmas special BYUtv took over as the premiere station for most episodes, though CBBC would premiere a few.
Reception
Critical reception
Malory Towers has garnered critical acclaim (with The Guardian calling the adaptation "absolutely ripping" and The Independent calling the series "a throughly modern take" of the classic book series). Victoria Legal at The Times picked the series' debut episode as her pick of the week, calling the series a "gift [that is] absolutely true to the spirit of the originals ... escapist, nostalgic and as glorious a treat as a midnight feast". Other favorable reviews came from Good Housekeeping, The Daily Telegraph and The Daily Mail with the last reviews giving Malory Towers four stars.
Accolades and awards
Malory Towers was nominated in 2022 for a Rose d'Or in the Children and Youth category. The series was nominated for four Children's and Family Emmy Awards and was nominated in six categories for the 2025 Children's and Family Emmy Awards, including an acting nomination both years for Ella Bright. Amanda Lawrence won in 2025 in the supporting performer category for her performance as Matron Shipley. The series was nominated in five categories for the 2026 Children's and Family Emmy Awards, including acting nominations for Danya Griver, Ellie Goldstein and April V. Woods.
Malory Towers was also nominated for three Canadian Screen Awards across the 2021 and 2023 ceremonies.
