Country: United Kingdom
Language: English
Runtime: 6 episodes x 55 minutes
Release dates: 26 January, 2, 9, 16, 23 February, 2 March 1975
Production companies: BBC Television
Director: Joan Craft
Dramatist: Elaine Morgan
Producer: John McRae
Source material: From L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island
Principal cast: Kim Braden (Anne Shirley), Barbara Hamilton (Marilla Cuthbert), Madge Ryan (Rachel Lynde), Christopher Blake (Gilbert Blythe), Jan Francis (Diana Barry), David Garfield (Mr. Harrison), Nicholas Lyndhurst (Davy Keith), Annabelle Lanyon (Dora Keith), Sabina Franklyn (Philippa Gordon), Anthony Forrest (Roy Gardner)
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0187698/
Like the 1972 miniseries Anne of Green Gables, this BBC miniseries was believed to be lost, but it was released on DVD in 2006. Based on Montgomery’s novels Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island, it follows Anne’s trials and tribulations as a young adult in Avonlea, from her first experiences as a teacher, her involvement in the romantic lives of others, and her university career, which is wrapped up in the final two episodes. The London Times claims the series “promises much” (25 January 1975) and pronounces it “delightful” (1 March 1975), but it does not offer a more detailed review. Rebroadcast on BBC between 2 January and 6 February 1977.
Credits
Opening Credits (All Episodes)
ANNE OF AVONLEA
Dramatised by ELAINE MORGAN
From
L.M. MONTGOMERY’S
Anne of Avonlea and
Anne of the Island
Ending Credits (Episode 1)
Anne Shirley: KIM BRADEN
Marilla Cuthbert: BARBARA HAMILTON
Rachel Lynde: MADGE RYAN
Gilbert Blythe: CHRISTOPHER BLAKE
Diana Barry: JAN FRANCIS
Mr. Harrison: DAVID GARFIELD
Mary Keith: CORAL ATKINS
Ruby Gillis: KIM HARDY
Jane Andrews: ZULEIKA ROBSON
Charlie Sloane: PETER SETTELEN
Fred Wright: MARTIN NEIL
Davy Keith: NICHOLAS LYNDHURST
Dora Keith: ANNABELLE LANYON
Paul Irving: KEITH STEVEN
Anthony Pye: IAN ALLIS
Cliffie Wright: PHILIP DA COSTA
Barbara Shaw: SIMONE KRIEGER
Music Arranged by ED WELCH
Played by JIM HUGHES
Film Cameraman: PHIL MEHEUX
Film Sound: STAN NIGHTINGALE
Film Editor: ALASTAIR MacKAY
Costumes: JOYCE RIXON MACKEN
Make-up: CHRISTINE BEVERIDGE
Studio Lighting: PETER CATLETT
Studio Sound: ALAN FOGG
Script Editor: ALISTAIR BELL
Designer: ANTONY THORPE
Producer: JOHN McRAE
Directed by JOAN CRAFT
BBC COLOUR
© BBC 1974
Ending Credits (Episode 2)
Anne Shirley: KIM BRADEN
Marilla Cuthbert: BARBARA HAMILTON
Rachel Lynde: MADGE RYAN
Gilbert Blythe: CHRISTOPHER BLAKE
Diana Barry: JAN FRANCIS
Mr. Harrison: DAVID GARFIELD
Uncle Abe: ROBERT HENDERSON
Ruby Gillis: KIM HARDY
Fred Wright: MARTIN NEIL
Judson Parker: ED BISHOP
Charlie Sloane: PETER SETTELEN
Davy Keith: NICHOLAS LYNDHURST
Dora Keith: ANNABELLE LANYON
Paul Irving: KEITH STEVEN
Anthony Pye: IAN ALLIS
Cliffie Wright: PHILIP DA COSTA
Barbara Shaw: SIMONE KRIEGER
Music Arranged by ED WELCH
Played by JIM HUGHES
Film Cameraman: PHIL MEHEUX
Film Sound: STAN NIGHTINGALE
Film Editor: ALASTAIR MacKAY
Costumes: JOYCE RIXON MACKEN
Make-up: CHRISTINE BEVERIDGE
Studio Lighting: PETER CATLETT
Studio Sound: ALAN FOGG
Script Editor: ALISTAIR BELL
Designer: ANTONY THORPE
Producer: JOHN McRAE
Directed by JOAN CRAFT
BBC COLOUR
© BBC 1974
Ending Credits (Episode 3)
Anne Shirley: KIM BRADEN
Marilla Cuthbert: BARBARA HAMILTON
Rachel Lynde: MADGE RYAN
Gilbert Blythe: CHRISTOPHER BLAKE
Diana Barry: JAN FRANCIS
Mr. Harrison: DAVID GARFIELD
Mrs. Harrison: BARBARA ANGELL
Miss Lavendar: KATHLEEN BYRON
Judson Parker: ED BISHOP
Ruby Gillis: KIM HARDY
Jane Andrews: ZULEIKA ROBSON
Charlie Sloane: PETER SETTELEN
Fred Wright: MARTIN NEIL
Davy Keith: NICHOLAS LYNDHURST
Dora Keith: ANNABELLE LANYON
Paul Irving: KEITH STEVEN
Charlotte IV: CLAIRE LEWIS
Mrs. Charlotte E. Morgan: SUSAN FIELD
Mrs. Pendexter: JENNIFER CROXTON
Priscilla: SANDY DICKINSON
Music Arranged by ED WELCH
Played by JIM HUGHES
Film Cameraman: PHIL MEHEUX
Film Sound: STAN NIGHTINGALE
Film Editor: ALASTAIR MacKAY
Costumes: JOYCE RIXON MACKEN
Make-up: JUDY THONGER
Studio Lighting: PETER CATLETT
Studio Sound: ALAN FOGG
Script Editor: ALISTAIR BELL
Designer: ANTONY THORPE
Producer: JOHN McRAE
Directed by JOAN CRAFT
BBC COLOUR
© BBC 1974
Ending Credits (Episode 4)
Anne Shirley: KIM BRADEN
Marilla Cuthbert: BARBARA HAMILTON
Rachel Lynde: MADGE RYAN
Gilbert Blythe: CHRISTOPHER BLAKE
Diana Barry: JAN FRANCIS
Miss Lavendar: KATHLEEN BYRON
Stephen Irving: ANTHONY AINLEY
Ruby Gillis: KIM HARDY
Jane Andrews: ZULEIKA ROBSON
Charlie Sloane: PETER SETTELEN
Fred Wright: MARTIN NEIL
Davy Keith: NICHOLAS LYNDHURST
Dora Keith: ANNABELLE LANYON
Paul Irving: KEITH STEVEN
Charlotte IV: CLAIRE LEWIS
Mrs. Charlotte E. Morgan: SUSAN FIELD
Mrs. Pendexter: JENNIFER CROXTON
Priscilla: SANDY DICKINSON
Billy Gillis: STUART McGUGAN
Thomas Lynde: GORDON STERNE
Mrs. Blewitt: MARIA CHARLES
Music Arranged by ED WELCH
Played by JIM HUGHES
Film Cameraman: PHIL MEHEUX
Film Sound: STAN NIGHTINGALE
Film Editor: ALASTAIR MacKAY
Costumes: JOYCE RIXON MACKEN
Make-up: CHRISTINE BEVERIDGE
Studio Lighting: PETER CATLETT
Studio Sound: ALAN FOGG
Script Editor: ALISTAIR BELL
Designer: ANTONY THORPE
Producer: JOHN McRAE
Directed by JOAN CRAFT
BBC COLOUR
© BBC 1974
Ending Credits (Episode 5)
Anne Shirley: KIM BRADEN
Marilla Cuthbert: BARBARA HAMILTON
Rachel Lynde: MADGE RYAN
Gilbert Blythe: CHRISTOPHER BLAKE
Diana Barry: JAN FRANCIS
Ruby Gillis: KIM HARDY
Jane Andrews: ZULEIKA ROBSON
Charlie Sloane: PETER SETTELEN
Fred Wright: MARTIN NEIL
Davy Keith: NICHOLAS LYNDHURST
Dora Keith: ANNABELLE LANYON
Philippa Gordon: SABINA FRANKLYN
Roy Gardner: ANTHONY FORREST
Miss Patty: PEGGY LEDGER
Miss Maria: GABRIELLE BLUNT
Aunt Jimsie: EILEEN ERSKINE
Jonas Blake: DAVID TROUGHTON
Young Men: STEVE PRESTON, PHILIP FOWLER
Music Arranged by ED WELCH
Played by JIM HUGHES
Film Cameraman: PHIL MEHEUX
Film Sound: STAN NIGHTINGALE
Film Editor: ALASTAIR MacKAY
Costumes: JOYCE RIXON MACKEN
Make-up: CHRISTINE BEVERIDGE
Studio Lighting: PETER CATLETT
Studio Sound: ALAN FOGG
Script Editor: ALISTAIR BELL
Designer: ANTONY THORPE
Producer: JOHN McRAE
Directed by JOAN CRAFT
BBC COLOUR
© BBC 1974
Ending Credits (Episode 6)
Anne Shirley: KIM BRADEN
Marilla Cuthbert: BARBARA HAMILTON
Rachel Lynde: MADGE RYAN
Gilbert Blythe: CHRISTOPHER BLAKE
Roy Gardner: ANTHONY FORREST
Diana Barry: JAN FRANCIS
Jane Andrews: ZULEIKA ROBSON
Philippa Gordon: SABINA FRANKLYN
Jonas Blake: DAVID TROUGHTON
Davy Keith: NICHOLAS LYNDHURST
Dora Keith: ANNABELLE LANYON
Aunt Jimsie: EILEEN ERSKINE
Mrs. Gardner: BETTY McDOWALL
Mrs. Blythe: HAZEL BAINBRIDGE
Mrs. Evans: VALERIE COLGAN
Music Arranged by ED WELCH
Played by JIM HUGHES
Production Assistant: JANE SHIRLEY
Production Unit Manager: MARGOT HAYHOE
Costumes: JOYCE RIXON MACKEN
Make-up: CHRISTINE BEVERIDGE
Studio Lighting: PETER CATLETT
Studio Sound: ALAN FOGG
Script Editor: ALISTAIR BELL
Designer: ANTONY THORPE
Producer: JOHN McRAE
Directed by JOAN CRAFT
BBC COLOUR
© BBC 1974
DVD
Anne of Avonlea. Based on the Novels by L.M. Montgomery. KOCH Entertainment, 2006.
Further Reading
Times (London). TV listings. 25 January 1975, 8.
Times (London). TV listings. 1 March 1975, 8.