First-look image revealed for The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾

Changing Ends actor Oliver Savell will star alongside Lisa McGrillis and Colin Hoult in the BBC adaptation of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾.

In a first-look picture, Bafta-nominated Savell wears a beige jacket and carries a newspaper delivery bag as he leans against a tree and stares at the camera.

Savell, known for playing a young Alan Carr in the ITV sitcom Changing Ends, will play Adrian Mole.

Rivals’ McGrillis will play his mother Pauline, and After Life’s Hoult will star as his father George.

The best-selling book by Sue Townsend will be adapted for the screen by One Day author David Nicholls.

The nine-part series will be made by Big Talk Studios, which is part of ITV Studios, for the BBC.

Pam Ferris joins the cast as Grandma, Galaxie Clear will play Pandora and Alun Armstrong will star as Bert.

The adaptation is being written by Caitlin Moran and Caroline Moran, who wrote Raised By Wolves, Dillon Mapletoft and Oliver Taylor, who co-created Everyone Else Burns, and Jack Rooke, who wrote Big Boys.

Other cast members announced on Tuesday include Jude Forsey as Nigel, Rory Keenan as Mr Lucas, David Wilmot as Mr Scruton and Karl Collins as Mr Cherry.

The story starts in 1981 and follows Adrian, who writes diary entries about his family life and being a teenager.

He worries about his spots, his parents’ divorce and the torment of first love.

Filming is under way in and around Hartlepool in Co Durham and the series will air next year.