Reboot of children's classic TV show The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole to start shooting in South Tyneside

A nostalgic blast-from-the-past is coming to life in South Tyneside when a new TV version of hit 1980s children’s book The Secret Diary Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ is filmed.

It will be lights, camera, action in and around Brinkburn Community Association when actors and camera crews shoot a BBC-backed revamp of author Sue Townsend’s decade-defining classic.

And their on-set presence comes with a polite request to householders living in streets surrounding the Harton Lane-based site in South Shields.

They are being asked to hide their modern motors so era authenticity can be maintained over four consecutive days of filming, from Wednesday, June 24.

Show bosses would not reveal why the community centre – which in the 1980s was a comprehensive school and has since been partly demolished – was picked as a location.

But a spokeswoman said: “We will be there and it’s very exciting. There will be a lot of young actors there, but whether they will be visible or not is another matter.

“There will be quite a lot of external shooting over the four days – it will be a lot of fun.”

The nine-part series is being adapted for the screen by David Nicholls and made by Big Talk Studios, part of ITV Studios, for the BBC

Shooting started across the north east in March, with earlier locations being in Sunderland and Hartlepool, and Brinkburn is believed to be the final stage.

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ starts on Year’s Day 1981 when the title character begins a diary about family life and being a teenager.

BAFTA nominated Oliver Savell stars as the title character, with Lisa McGrillis playing his mother Pauline and Colin Hoult his father George.

Darling Buds of May star Pam Ferris has taken the role of Grandma, Galaxie Clear plays as Pandora and renowned County Durham-born actor Alun Armstrong is Bert.

In a letter to residents in Harton Lane, McAnany Avenue and Hollingside Way, location manager Emily Turnbull revealed space around the community centre would be coned off.

She also said her team’s work was being supported by North East Screen and South Tyneside Council – and security would be in place.

Emily added: “As I’m sure you’re aware, filming involves bringing several technical support vehicles to locations.

“To facilitate our shoot, we are planning to park these vehicles within the grounds of Brinkburn.

“As our show is a period drama, we would like your help to take our filming area back to the 1980s.

“We would be extremely grateful if on our filming days, residents could park their modern vehicles outside of our filming areas.

“Our mail filming area will be McAnany Avenue, and we will also be seeing some of Hollingside Way.

“If you are a resident of Hollingside Way and we think this will concern you, we will be in touch directly.

“To facilitate our filming, we plan to cone off the parking bays on McAnany Avenue and some on Hollingside Way ahead of our filming.”