12-year-old Tom Long (Jeremy Rampling) is staying with his childless Uncle Alan (Shaughan Seymour) and Aunt Gwen (Isabelle Amyes) while his brother Peter (Simon Fenton) has measles. The elderly and reclusive landlady, Mrs Bartholomew (Renée Asherson), lives above them.
When their old grandfather clock strikes thirteen at midnight, Tom makes a strange discovery – a portal to the 19th century where only a lonely but friendly orphan girl called Hatty (Caroline Waldron) can see him.
Tom continues to visit the garden each night, and he and Hatty become friends.
Gradually, at first, Hatty begins to grow up and passes Tom’s age.
He comes to realise that he is slipping to different points in the past each time he returns. Finally, Hatty becomes an adult and is being courted by an acquaintance of hers who is nicknamed Barty (Gareth Kirkland).
On the final night before Tom is due to go home, he finds the garden is no longer there. He shouts Hatty’s name in desperation before his Uncle Alan finds him and puts the events down to sleepwalking. The following morning, Mrs Bartholomew summons Tom to apologise, only to reveal herself as the elderly Hatty.
This six-part BBC series was adapted from a 1958 novel by Philippa Pearce. It was their second adaptation of the story, following an earlier three-part adaptation in 1974, starring Nicholas Bridge as Tom and Adrienne Byrne as Hatty.
Tom Long
Jeremy Rampling Uncle Alan
Shaughan Seymour Aunt Gwen
Isabelle Amyes Peter Long
Simon Fenton Hatty
Caroline Waldron Mrs Bartholomew
Renée Asherson Abel
Richard Garnett Mrs Long
Sarah Jane McKechnie Aunt Grace
Katherine Schofield Susan
Tessa Burbridge Barty
Gareth Kirkland Edgar
Edward Sibley James
Noah Huntley Older James
Richard Cripwell Hubert
Ashley Clark
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When their old grandfather clock strikes thirteen at midnight, Tom makes a strange discovery – a portal to the 19th century where only a lonely but friendly orphan girl called Hatty (Caroline Waldron) can see him.
Tom Long
Hatty
