Malory Towers – the BBC children’s drama based on Enid Blyton’s books inspired by her daughter’s experiences at a boarding school which was moved to Cornwall during the Second World War – is making a return.

The second series of the charming hit children’s drama is being launched on BBC iPlayer, with all episodes available to view from tomorrow (Monday).

The popular drama, that went down a treat with viewers during lockdown, is perfect for the whole family as main character Darrell Rivers and her pals return to the Cornish boarding school for another helping of midnight feasts, lacrosse games and friendly larks.

The real-life school that Enid Blyton’s eldest daughter Gillian attended was Benendon School near Tenterden in Kent, with the pupils and most of the staff being evacuated to Cornwall to the Hotel Bristol building in Newquay in 1940; the name Darrell Rivers, meanwhile, was taken from Blyton’s second husband’s name, Kenneth Darrell Waters.

The 13, 25-minute episodes series, adapted from the iconic novels, follows the adventures of Darrell Rivers, played by Ella Bright, as she attends the all-girls’ boarding school of the title. While some street scenes were filmed in Bodmin and other scenes on the Cornish coast, the exterior shots of the eponymous Malory Towers were actually filmed at Hartland Abbey, just over the border into North Devon, while many interior scenes were filmed in Toronto, Canada!

In this second series, Darrell and the gang return for their second form year, and adventure, fun and boarding school antics are back in full swing, along with new friendships and rivalries.

Darrell finds herself caught between fun-loving Alicia (Zoey Siewert) and the more cautious Sally (Sienna Arif-Knights), while Gwen (Danya Griver) discovers new ways to manipulate the girls in the dorm. Meanwhile, Jean (Beth Bradfield) is kindly on hand to help new girl Ellen Wilson (Carys John) settle into Malory Towers, which she joins on a scholarship…but it takes time for her to warm to the school and the rest of her new classmates, even brave Mary-Lou (Imogen Lamb) and scatterbrain Irene (Natasha Raphael).

Mr Parker (Jason Callender) also arrives as the stern new second form teacher, with Matron (Ashley McGuire) and Mam’zelle Rougier (Geneviève Beaudet) returning to keep the girls in order.

Series 2 also sees the introduction of new sixth former Georgina Thomas (Edie Whitehead) and her father, wealthy businessman Francis Thomas (Dominic Coleman), who develops a keen interest in the school. However, among the excitement, fun and capers the girls are brought together by news that shocks them all...

Malory Towers is a King Bert Productions and WildBrain co-production, commissioned for BBC Children’s CBBC and Family Channel. Adapted by Lead Writers Sasha Hails and Rachel Flowerday, series 2 is produced by David Collier, and executive produced by Jo Sargent. Bruce McDonald and Gary Williams are directing.

WildBrain is international distributor for Malory Towers outside of the UK. Malory Towers was commissioned by BBC Children’s Head of Content Cheryl Taylor and is executive produced for the BBC by Amy Buscombe. The rights were acquired from Hachette Children’s Group, owners of Enid Blyton Entertainment and publisher of Malory Towers.

Malory Towers series 2 comes to BBC iPlayer, with all episodes available tomorrow (Monday, November 22), and will air on CBBC channel in the new year.