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Made by Granada and first broadcast between December 1969 and February 1970, The Owl Service is an eight-part adaptation of Alan Garner's award-winning children's book. It centres on Alison and her stepbrother Roger, who are holidaying at a Welsh cottage. Alison discovers a service of old dinner plates which have a strange floral pattern. But what is the connection between this "owl service", the strange gardener, the angry housekeeper and the mysterious local legend?
SFX's reviewer said: "There’s power in its understatement: the sound of scratching in an attic, the inexplicable way patterns vanish from plates, even the stir of wind-blown leaves, all building to a remarkable ending that approaches a pagan take on The Exorcist."
The Owl Service is available to buy on Blu-ray now. Bonus features include charming 1968 footage of Garner discussing his home life and inspirations (10 minutes), commentary on four episodes by retro TV expert Tim Worthington, a 20-minute Alan Garner interview from 1980, and an image gallery. Thanks to Network we have five copies to give away. To put your name in the hat for the chance to win one, simply answer the question below.
