Alfonso Bonzo is a 1986 children's book by Andrew Davies and a 1990 children's short-lived television series adapted from the book by the author. The series starred Alex Jennings as Alfonso Bonzo and Scott Riley as Billy Webb. Billy Webb is a young boy who likes to swap things with his school mates. He meets Alfonso Bonzo, an "Italian exchange student" who also has a talent for swapping things (thus his self-description: he is an Italian student who exchanges things). Alfonso offers Billy a variety of temporary swaps to demonstrate his abilities: Billy's boring old dog for a greyhound that does ballet, the wonky Webb family television for a new model with a button that lets the viewer become part of the action, Billy's battered schoolbag full of unfinished homework for a brand new schoolbag containing a file folder that magically produces finished homework, but, each swap has disadvantages as well as advantages, and Alfonso Bonzo cuts an increasingly sinister figure as he leads up to one last swap, this one for keeps. The TV series later had a spinoff called Billy Webb's Amazing Stories, featuring Billy's further (non-Alfonso-related) adventures. Cast Scott Riley as Billy Webb Alex Jennings as Alfonso Bonzo Mike Walling as Trevor Trotman Susan Porrett as Mrs. Webb Fleur Taylor as Linda Webb Gil Brailey as Mrs. Peasgood Brian Hall as Mr. Webb External links BFI Film & TV Database entry 1986 British novels 1990 British television series debuts 1991 British television series endings 1990s British children's television series British children's novels BBC children's television shows 1990s British television miniseries English-language television shows British television shows based on children's books Fictional Italian people in literature 1986 children's books British children's books Methuen Publishing books