rARsh!

The Colour of Magic

I was very much looking forward to seeing Sky’s adaptation of Terry Pratchett’s The Colour of Magic/The Light Fantastic and have just watched the first half.

Very well done it was, too – and nice for Mr Pratchett’s cameo to be at the start rather than right at the end as happened with Hogfather.

But.

You knew there’d be a “but”, didn’t you?

Now, in “Hogfather” we had major parts played by David Jason (Alberto Malich/Albert), Nigel Planer (Mr. Sideney) and Stephen Marcus (Banjo).

In tonight’s adaptation, name three actors who have fairly sizeable parts. Well, ok. Not all that sizeable in the case of Nigel Planer.

Yup.

Now, I know that casting David Jason in anything seems to be a guarantee of success – or treated as such – but I don’t see why they couldn’t have found another actor to play Rincewind or Broadman (and why Nigel Planer had to appear again at all – no offence intended to him).

I’d really hope that Sky continue to adapt Pratchett’s work until they get to my favourites, but not if every adaptation is going to be a series of David-Jason-is-another-Discworld-character production. Jason as Mort (presumably also featuring DJ as Albert again)? as Vimes? as Brutha?

Am I alone in this?