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Brides-ted Resuscitated - reprieve as Aloysius the bear is set to appear in £10million movie adaptation of classic English novel
Last updated at 07:28am on 19.05.08To purists, he was an essential part of that classic English novel Brideshead Revisited.
So they were aghast when it was revealed Aloysius the teddy bear would not feature in the £10million movie adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's upper-class saga.
However, as our picture reveals, Lord Sebastian Flyte's furry companion has been granted a reprieve – even if he has lost rather a lot of weight since last seen in the 1981 TV version.
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Punt: The new Aloysius with Ben Whishaw in £10million adaptation of Brideshead Revisted
Sir John Mortimer, who scripted the ITV series 27 years ago, led the protest when it appeared Aloysius was being axed.
He said the bear was an integral character and a symbol of Sebastian not growing up.
But the new film's producer Ken Loader said yesterday: "Rumours of Aloysius's death have been greatly exaggerated.
"As the more observant will note, the new Aloysius is smaller than the original. He's much more discreet.
"Several bears were considered and this one was the best looking. He is a genuinely old bear."
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Stars: Anthony Andrews and a bigger Aloysius in the 1981 TV series
"Sebastian is being punted down the Cherwell in Oxford and Charles catches sight of this unworldly figure drinking champagne with his teddy bear.
"And Aloysius is at the lunch when Charles actually meets Sebastian. He also goes to Venice with Sebastian. He's a very well travelled bear."
The Aloysius used in the TV series is now 101 years old and was not considered for the part, having retired to the Teddy Bears of Witney shop and museum near Oxford.
The TV production made stars of Anthony Andrews as Sebastian and Jeremy Irons as Charles.
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Stroll: Emma Thompson as Lady Marchmain and Matthew Goode as Ryder
The film is due out in September. Loader said of the performances: "Ben Whishaw is extraordinary and Emma Thompson just fantastic."
Sebastian's sister Julia Flyte is played by Hayley Atwell, while Castle Howard in North Yorkshire again becomes Brideshead – as revealed in these exclusive pictures.
Loader said: "In many ways we didn't want to go back there, but in the end it was just right. It fits so well with the period and Catholic atmosphere."
