Tom Brown's Schooldays (TV serial) Tom Brown's Schooldays (TV serial) Tom Brown's Schooldays is a 1971 television serial adaptation of the Thomas Hughes novel "Tom Brown's Schooldays". It was originally screened on the BBC1 Sunday afternoon slot, which often showed serialisations of classics aimed at a family audience. It made some free adaptations to Hughes's novel, creating the role of Flashman's father, and writing new sub-plots about Flashman and Arnold. It also included some scenes of bullying and corporal punishment which may have been strong stuff for family viewing. "Clean-up TV" campaigner Mary Whitehouse claimed that the programme broke the BBC's guidelines on the depiction
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling plot was also original for its time, and the foundation for criticism of the book's "lowness". Squire Allworthy falls ill and is convinced that he is dying. His family and servants gather around his bed as he disposes his wealth. He gives a favourable amount of his wealth to Tom Jones, which displeases Master Blifil. Tom doesn't care about what he has been given, since his only concern is Allworthy's health. Allworthy's health improves and we learn that he will live. Tom Jones is so excited that he begins to get drunk and gets into a fight with Blifil. Sophia