At a time when things are tense in the real world, we all just want a bit of wholesome content to escape with. Luckily, the entertainment gods are delivering the goods. 

It was recently announced that Dawn French is set to star in a new Christmas film about children’s writer Beatrix Potter. And we’ve all been finding comfort in the new series of The Great British Bake Off. We also predict that Meryl Streep’s new Netflix musical, The Prom, is going to be the most fabulous escapism.

But just in case you want even more feel-good news, a reboot of The Secret Garden is coming to Now TV this week.

Julie Walters and Colin Firth star in Sky Cinema’s remake of the children’s classic, along with newcomer Dixie Egerickx. The Secret Garden comes from Harry Potter and Paddington producer, David Heyman, and is based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. This will be the third adaptation of the book, with the first being released in 1949 and a second made in 1993. 

What is The Secret Garden about?

In case you don’t already know the fantastical tale, The Secret Garden tells the story of Mary Lennox (Egerickx), a 10-year-old girl sent to live with her uncle Archibald Craven (Firth), under the watchful eye of Mrs. Medlock (Walters) with only the household maid, Martha (Isis Davis) for company. 

It’s set in 1940s England at Misselthwaite Manor, a remote country estate deep in the Yorkshire moors. Mary begins to uncover many family secrets, particularly after chancing upon her cousin Colin (Edan Hayhurst), who has been shut away unwell in a wing of the house. 

 While exploring the grounds of the Misselthwaite Manor, Mary discovers a wondrous garden and meets a local boy Dickon (Amir Wilson) who helps her fix stray dog Hector’s injured leg using the garden’s restorative powers. The three children adventure deep into the mysteries of the garden – a magical place that will change their lives forever…

Watch the trailer for The Secret Garden

When is The Secret Garden released?

The Secret Garden comes to cinemas and Sky Cinema across the UK and Ireland on 23 October, and will be available to stream on Now TV on the same date. 

We can’t wait to escape with it. 

Images: Sky Cinema