The Railway Children, one of the greatest British films of all time, is airing on BBC Two today at 1:15pm. The 1970 classic, written and directed by Lionel Jeffries, is an adaptation of E. Nesbit's 1906 novel. It stars Jenny Agutter as Bobbie, a role she first played in a 1968 television version. The film follows three siblings whose father is falsely imprisoned for espionage, forcing the family to leave London for a country cottage where they befriend railway staff and passengers.
Critical Acclaim and Rankings
The British Film Institute ranked The Railway Children 66th in its 1999 list of the Top 100 British films of all time. In 2004, Total Film magazine placed it 46th on its list of the greatest British films of the 20th century. The film's enduring popularity led to a 2000 television adaptation in which Agutter played the mother, and a 2022 sequel, The Railway Children Return, set during World War II, where she reprised her original role as Bobbie.
Broadcast Details
The Railway Children will be shown on BBC Two at 1:15pm today and will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer for a limited time afterward. Co-starring Bernard Cribbins, the Edwardian-era film remains a beloved family classic.
