Piece of Cake (TV Series) - Differences To Original Novel

Differences To Original Novel

The TV series was generally faithful to the original 1983 novel by Derek Robinson. And for practical reasons, the series was obliged to change or combine certain incidents and characters. Some of the differences in the original novel include:

• As already mentioned above, Hornet Squadron is equipped with Hawker Hurricane Mk. 1s instead of Spitfires.
• Fanny Barton is a New Zealander rather than an Australian.
• American Chris Hart is known as CH3, after his initials Christopher Hart the Third.
• It is 'Mother' Cox rather than Hart who narrowly avoids death when his early model Hurricane loses its wooden propeller in flight.
• 'Sticky' Stickwell has a prior history of mental illness and before the Blitzkrieg he is transferred from Hornet Squadron by order of Squadron Leader Rex for attacking enemy territory without orders. He later transfers to another squadron that flies two-seater Defiants and he is killed during the Battle of Britain.
• The marriages of Fitz and Gordon to their respective wives take place separately and prior to the German invasion. The air-raid that injures Squadron Leader Rex takes place at night.
• Marriott, the engineering officer, survives.
• Nicole loses her life whilst fleeing as a refugee but due to an accident when the motorcyclist she has gotten a lift with crashes.
• Cattermole orders 'Nim' Renouf rather than Steele-Stebbing to shoot down the German rescue plane over the Channel.
• 'Mother' Cox escapes injury and is still flying with Hornet Squadron on 7 September. During the action he bales out and is last mentioned drifting by parachute towards dry land.
• Newcomer to Hornet Squadron Pilot Officer Steele-Stebbing is harassed and picked on by Moggy Cattermole until the former retaliates with a practical joke. The two appear to be forming an unlikely friendship until the battle on 7 September when Steele-Stebbing is killed.
• Czech pilot 'Haddy' Haducek is shot down and killed a few days prior to 7 September.
• Moggy Cattermole is killed during the climactic battle on 7 September but he is first mistakenly attacked and damaged by a Spitfire and then finished off by German Me-109s.
• Air-Commodore Bletchley is killed in an air-raid during the Battle of Britain. However, he manages to reappear in two sequels.
• At the end of the novel, Christopher Hart is still alive and he and Squadron Leader Barton are continuing to attack the massed formation of German bombers.