Titty is renamed Tatty for new BBC adaptation of Swallows and Amazons – Daily TV round-up

Titty, the character from Arthur Ransome's classic children's book 'Swallows and Amazons', is being renamed in a forthcoming adaptation by the BBC.

She will instead be called Tatty so as to avoid causing any offence to modern audiences.

The name Tatty is being used, however, with some historical licence.

Ransome based the characters in the book on a real family called the Altounyans, with Mavis, one of the girls, being nicknamed Titty after the children's story Titty Mouse and Tatty Mouse.

She will be played by Teddie-Rose Malleson-Allen, the half-sister of singer Lily Allen.

Former actress Sophie Neville, who aged 12 played Titty in the classic 1974 film version, said she was all for the change, telling the Daily Telegraph: “I’ve been Titty for the past 42 years.

“I didn’t get any stick at all over the name in those days. But if they have to change it I think Tatty is a good choice, because Mavis Altounyan and her elder sister were known as Titty and Tatty when they sailed so there is a real-life basis for it.

“I’m thrilled that they’re changing it, really, because it makes the new film a bit different.”

The BBC hasn't always changed the name, however, leaving it as Titty in a 2012 adaptation on Radio 2, but calling her Kitty in the 1963 TV movie.

The new version, being made by BBC Films, starts filming in the Lake District and Yorkshire this weekend, made by 'Call The Midwife' and 'Jamaica Inn' director Philippa Lowthorpe.

Christine Langan, the head of BBC Films, said that the new version will not pander to today's obsessions with health and safety, allowing the adventurousness and independence of the Tatty, Roger, Susan and John shine through as Ransome intended.

“There’s nothing like being left adrift, far away from mum and dad. I think a modern audience will be inspired by the amount of independence these children have,” she said.

It also stars Rafe Spall as Captain Flint. [Daily Telegraph]

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