Before long the hyena's transformation occurs, dressed in the victims' clothes which fit them perfectly, tucking in their tails, and popping on hats, the switch works perfectly, and they become Fred and Amelia Bold.

The Bolds - London Bridge Revealed The Bolds - London Bridge Revealed

It is their friend Minnie, played sensitively by Charity Beddu-Addo, who adds an understated poignancy to the story, reminding us that the most ordinary-looking people don’t necessarily have a straightforward life when you stop to look. One day a foolish English couple wander into the bush, and under the intense heat take a dip in a pond. Julian Clary’s series of six children’s books is a Sunday Times best-seller having sold over half a million copies worldwide. James Button's mobile set and colourful costumes are delightful and Lee Lyford’s direction keeps things fast-moving, though deliberately slowing down for Minnie to sing “I Wish That I Could Be a Hyena”. It is a great deal of fun with the twins played like real irrepressible children and a talented company singing, dancing Natasha Harrison’s nifty choreography and playing instruments alongside musical director Simon Wallace on keyboards.

I can just hear Julian saying, ” …but I digress…” , but this lends the story a very personal touch, as if an adult were telling a story from memory. They embark on an ambitious heist to rescue an old hyena they meet in a safari park, but will they have everything fixed in time for Christmas?

The Bolds Go Green – The Bolds The Bolds Go Green – The Bolds

They decided they would take the clothing, money passports and airline tickets from the Bolds tent and head to England. But Clary keeps children consistently engaged, while throwing their parents enough suggestive smut and references to Love Island and, er, Chatham, to ensure their ears also remain pricked throughout.There’s an exciting, action-packed climax, and a very satisfying twist at the end, so all in all this is a very neatly constructed story. They may find a couple of double meanings that pass over the youngsters’ heads and as things draw to a close there is just a hint of more in a budding bromance between Mr McNumpty and Uncle Tony (they get a repeat of a number together) but this is the children’s book Clary, not the caustic camp one.

The Bolds – The Bolds The Bolds – The Bolds

If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page. Julian has appeared on numerous popular TV shows including Celebrity Big Brother (which he won), Strictly Come Dancing, This Morning, QI, Have I Got News For You and is a regular panellist on BBC Radio 4's Just a Minute.The message is laid out through the story; have fun, be accepting, make jokes and friends, and be courageous when it comes to doing good. I think it might be most popular with 8- to 10-year old boys because it also contains lots of mild, scatological humor. Having seven in the collection, this play focuses on the first book - the story of The Bolds; a family just like the majority of us, who live in a nice house, have nice jobs and love a giggle.