Malory Towers is a new 13-part drama based on the iconic novels by Enid Blyton, following the adventures of Darrell Rivers as she leaves home for the first time to attend an all-girls’ boarding school.

Set in post-war Britain on the sun-drenched cliffs of the Cornish coast, the series explores a nostalgic world of midnight feasts, lacrosse, pranks, a mystery ghost and lasting friendships.

Episode one: The First Day.

It’s the start of a new term at Malory Towers. New girl, Darrell Rivers, is hoping to begin her new adventure while keeping her past at her old school - St. Hilda’s - a close secret. Darrell, Gwen and Sally, who are also new, get lost and stumble across a classroom set up for science class. Darrell says that she dreams of one day being a doctor like her father, but Gwen is puzzled by this ambition. Stern, eagle-eyed Matron catches them and they’re taken straight to the headmistress but, to their surprise, Miss Grayling delivers an awe-inspiring speech welcoming them to Malory Towers.

That night Alicia and Darrell head out to their first Midnight Feast. Uninvited, Gwen follows them and watches on from the shadows as they have fun without her. Outraged, she confronts Darrell when she goes for a swim the next morning, leading to Gwen falling into the pool and vowing to prove that Darrell was the girl who was ‘asked to leave’ St. Hilda’s.

The full series is available on BBC iPlayer from Monday 23 March.

Pictured: Darrell (Ella Bright) says goodbye to her family