Has it really been 40 years since the release of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾? Set in the Thatcher years and referencing events of the time such as the Falklands War and the royal wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana, the book revolved around the diary entries of the self-proclaimed intellectual teen Adrian Mole.
The novel was written by Sue Townsend and was turned into a television show three years later featuring many big stars of the time including Beryl Reid, Julie Walters, Stephen Moore and Louise Jameson.
The series also had one of the most memorable theme tunes in the form of Ian Dury's specially written Profoundly In Love With Pandora, which was also released as a single in October 1985.
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The show was successful enough to spawn two follow-up series with The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole, in 1987, and the final TV series, Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years, more than a decade later in 2001.
Throughout its run, the show recast major characters, such as when Julie Walters left the show after the first series as Adrian's mother Pauline Mole, to be replaced by Scottish singing star Lulu in the follow-up.
After being successful on ITV, the third series went over to BBC One with a completely new cast. Here we take a look at what the stars have been up to since the heady days of Adrian Mole...
Adrian Mole
The title role was played in the first two series by up-and-coming young actor Gian Sammarco, who got the part after auditioning along with 100 young actors.
Mole was Gian's biggest role, although he did go on to present the first series of the Saturday morning children's TV show Get Fresh, along with a part in the Doctor Who story The Greatest Show in the Galaxy in 1988.
Gian left acting behind and became a nurse.
Adrian was also portrayed by Stephen Mangan for the 2001 series. After this he went on to roles in the likes of Green Wing, Dirk Gently, and Blis. Mangan is also the voice of Postman Pat in the 2014 hit movie and he was most recently seen in hit TV drama The Split opposite Nicola Walker.
Pauline Mole
Adrian's mother has been played by a different actress in each series, with Julie Walters being the one most would remember from the first series.
Now known as Dame Julie Walters, she has a long list of credits and successes to her name, from her role as Molly Weasley in the Harry Potter film series to Rosie in Mamma Mia!, not forgetting her show-stealing performance in the four-part drama National Treasure.
For the second series, Pauline was portrayed by Lulu who we all know as the voice of Shout! and in 1993 her duet with Take That on Relight My Fire.
Her TV roles over the years include Absolutely Fabulous, along with many appearances with French & Saunders as well.
The third actress to play Adrian's mother is none other than Gavin & Stacey star Alison Steadman who can be seen in Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years. She's been in a wealth of other TV dramas including recent mini-series Life.
George Mole
Adrian's father was played by Stephen Moore, who you may recognise from numerous roles in films and TV shows such as Brassed Off, The Boat That Rocked and a role in the 2010 Cold Blood episode of Doctor Who.
Moore passed away in 2019 at the age of 81.
May 'Grandma' Mole
Star of stage and screen Beryl Reid played Adrian's grandmother and George's mother in the first two series of the show.
Beryl was another Doctor Who alumni and will be known for her co-presenting of Get Up and Go along with Mooncat. Reid passed away in 1996 at the age of 77.
Pandora Braithwaite
The object of Adrian's affection, Pandora, was played by Lindsey Stagg who was one of 500 girls to audition for the role.
However, Lindsey did not enjoy acting and soon left the profession behind. This was her one and only TV role and was last known to be a post-natal doula in and around Stockport.
In the third series, Pandora was played by Cold Feet star Helen Baxendale, who has also appeared in Friends, Cuckoo and most recently Noughts + Crosses.
Tania Braithwaite
Pandora's mother was played by Louise Jameson in the first two series.
Most people will recognise Louise as (depending on their age) Leela from Doctor Who, Susan Young in Bergerac, and Rosa di Marco in EastEnders.
Most recently she can be seen in Emmerdale as Mary Goskirk.
Nigel Partridge
Nigel Partridge was Adrian's best friend and was played by Steven Mackintosh.
Mackintosh has appeared in quite a few films and TV shows such as the role of Andreas Tanis in the action-horror movies Underworld: Evolution and Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans, along with credits in Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels, Kick-Ass 2 and Rocketman
TV roles include DCI Ian Reed in the first series of Luther.
Barry Kent
Barry Kent was Adrian's arch-nemesis and bully, who was played brilliantly by Chris Gascoyne who you may know now as Peter Barlow from Coronation Street.
Chris has played Ken Barlow's son on and off since 2000, which is where you can see him currently.
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