BBC's Charles Dickens
The BBC's many adaptations of the Dickens' Classics
By order of latest to earliest release
By order of latest to earliest release
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34 titles
- StarsMatthew RhysFreddie FoxTamzin MerchantAn exploration of Charles Dicken's unfinished work in which the mystery of the murder of Edwin Drood is examined.Gothic and grim, this adaptation of Dickens' final and incomplete novel not only gives the story darkly entertaining life, but expands on it in many fresh and interesting ways
- StarsDouglas BoothJack RothRay WinstoneThe orphan Pip becomes a gentleman when his life is transformed by a mystery benefactor.
- StarsMatthew MacfadyenClaire FoyTom CourtenayThe Dorrits are a family whose life revolves around the Marshalsea, a debtor's prison. Amy Dorrit's kind nature brings the family into contact with a wide swath of English society, from the poorest to the richest, and back again.
- StarsWilliam MillerTom HardyTimothy SpallThe adventures of the orphaned Oliver Twist in Victorian London.
- StarsAnna Maxwell MartinCarey MulliganDenis LawsonA suspenseful tale about the injustices of the 19th Century English legal system.
- StarsDaniel RadcliffeTrevor EvePauline QuirkeA gentle orphan discovers life and love in an indifferent adult world.
- DirectorJulian JarroldStarsIoan GruffuddJustine WaddellCharlotte RamplingA humble orphan suddenly becomes a gentleman with the help of an unknown benefactor.
- StarsPaul McGannKeeley HawesDominic MafhamIntertwining tales of love, greed, and secret identities in Charles Dickens's 1860s London.
- StarsHarriet WalterBill PatersonAlan BatesIn the first part of this adaptation by Peter Barnes, we are introduced to Tom and Louisa.
- StarsEmma ChambersJulia SawalhaKeith AllenOld Martin Chuzzlewit is nearing his death. Who will inherit his riches? With such a prize to play for, the Chuzzlewit family bring forth all of their cunning, greed and selfishness. Adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens.This adaptation gives funny, dramatic and thoroughly entertaining life to an underrated story about family and greed
- StarsBen RodskaEric PorterMichael AttwellAn orphan named Oliver Twist meets a pickpocket on the streets of London. From there, he joins a household of boys who are trained to steal for their master.
- StarsDenholm ElliottSuzanne BurdenJonathan MooreThe great case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce drags on, an obsession to all involved. Then a question of inheritance becomes a question of murder.Beautifully shot and well-acted, this visually stunning adaptation captures the bitterness and grimness of the story while adding little more than previous adaptations already have, but is a thoroughly entertaining production regardless
- StarsJulian GloverShirley CainZelah ClarkeThe dream of Paul Dombey, the wealthy owner of the shipping company, is to have a son to continue his business. Tragically, Dombey's wife dies shortly after giving birth to their son.This adaptation removes and alters certain parts of the story at the cost of its truly emotional punches, but retains the bittersweetness and humour, and has a certain sophistication to its production design
- StarsGerry SundquistTim MunroDerek FrancisA humble orphan suddenly becomes a gentleman with the help of an unknown benefactor.
- StarsSebastian ShawTrevor PeacockNatalie OgleThe story of Nell Trent, a beautiful young girl. An orphan, she lives with her Grandfather in The Old Curiosity Shop in London.Although a relatively simple story, this adaptation never runs short of fun characters, great performances, lovely production design, tragedy and even some light humour to brighten the atmosphere
- StarsNigel HaversPeter BourkeDerek GodfreyA young, compassionate man struggles to save his family and friends from the abusive exploitation of his cold-hearted, grasping uncle.This adaptation is a funny, sharp and entertaining portrayal of complex family and business affairs, and the man in the centre's efforts to keep all those he loves safe and happy
- StarsJohn McEneryLesley DunlopJane SeymourBased on the Dickens novel, tells the story of a young man whose inherited fortune hangs on his marriage to a woman he's never met. But many have their eyes on his fortune and scheme to claim it, placing him in a poor situation where he must fight for this woman as a mere secretary.
- StarsIan HoggDavid TroughtonPatience CollierA gentle orphan discovers life and love in an indifferent adult world.A masterfully crafted adaptation of a fun, tragic and comedic tale of a young man's adolescent and adult journey to find love and happiness
- StarsJohn CarsonKara WilsonChristopher SandfordThe dream of Paul Dombey, the wealthy owner of the shipping company, is to have a son to continue his business. Tragically, Dombey's wife dies shortly after giving birth to their son.A heart-wrenching, tragic, hugely entertaining and visually pleasing adaptation (of a rather tedious book) that deserves more recognition
- DirectorTerry HughesStarsHarry SecombeRoy CastleHattie JacquesSet in England in 1828, the story centres on wealthy Samuel Pickwick and his valet Sam Weller, who are in a debtors' prison where they recall the misadventures that led to their imprisonment. On the previous Christmas Eve, Pickwick introduced his friend Wardle, Wardle's daughters, Emily and Isabella, and their Aunt Rachael to Nathaniel Winkle, Augustus Snodgrass, and Tracy Tupman, three members of the Pickwick Club. They were soon joined by Alfred Jingle, who tricked Tupman into paying for his ticket to a ball that evening. Upon learning Rachael is an heiress, Jingle set out to win her hand and eventually succeeded. Pickwick engages Sam Weller as his valet and, through a series of misunderstandings, he inadvertently leads his landlady, Mrs. Bardell, to believe he has proposed marriage to her. Pickwick is charged with breach of promise and hauled into court, where he is found guilty as charged and sentenced to prison when he stubbornly refuses to pay her compensation.This adaptation exists, but is unavailable for public viewing
- StarsMartin JarvisSusan BrodrickHugh WaltersA compassionate young man struggles to save his family and friends from the abusive exploitation of his cold-hearted, grasping uncle.All episodes of this adaptation exist, but are unavailable for public viewing
- StarsGary BondFrancesca AnnisPeter VaughanA humble orphan suddenly becomes a gentleman with the help of an unknown benefactor.This adaptation is a grim and tragic one, but it has glimmers of hopefulness and joy, exploring the novel like few others and presenting the ending Dickens originally intended in a way few have done
- StarsIan McKellenFlora RobsonTina PackerA gentle orphan discovers life and love in an indifferent adult world.Only four of this adaptation's thirteen episodes (3, 8 9 & 11) are known to exist. It is a light-hearted, campy depiction of the story that, whilst very incomplete, never fails to capture the magic of the story, and makes me sad more episodes didn't survive
- StarsPatrick TroughtonNicholas PennellKika MarkhamDuring the turbulent days of the French Revolution, Frenchwoman Lucie Manette falls in love with Englishman Charles Darnay who's hiding his true identity and purpose.Only two of this adaptation's ten episodes (2 & 3) are known to exist and are not available for public viewing
- StarsGary RaymondRichard PearsonBarry JonesSome very greedy and selfish relatives are all after the failing old Martin Chuzzlewit's money. He is surrounded by all these sycophantic relatives that he truly despises whilst ill, each one only interested in getting their hands on his estate.Only a lengthy sequence from the end of the thirteenth episode is known to exist, and is unavailable for public viewing. The rest of the serial is lost
- StarsMichele DotriceOliver JohnstonAnton RodgersA kindly shop owner whose overwhelming gambling debts allow a greedy landlord to seize his shop of dusty treasures. Evicted and with no way to pay his debts, he and his granddaughter flee.No recordings of this production are known to exist
- StarsBruce ProchnikMax AdrianPeter VaughanAn orphan named Oliver Twist meets a pickpocket on the streets of London. From there, he joins a household of boys who are trained to steal for their master.This adaptation is a sad, grim, downbeat portrayal of the classic novel, though it has an ultimately uplifting ending, and some unforgettable performances, music and imagery
- StarsJohn WoodBarbara HicksNewton BlickMurder mystery interwoven with the historical events of England's Gordon riots of 1780, based on the novel by Charles Dickens.Although this adaptation packs a rather zany narrative (essentially two stories mashed together), it is rich in performances, a sense of humour nicely blended with darker moments and an interesting examination on the conflict between Catholics and Protestants, which gives the story a satisfying conclusion
- StarsDiana FairfaxColin JeavonsAndrew CruickshankA suspenseful tale about the injustices of the 19th Century English legal system.A thoroughly entertaining character drama that explores legal corruption, domestic tangles and family secrecy in all their heartbreaking glory
- StarsDinsdale LandenColin JeavonsMichael GwynnA humble orphan suddenly becomes a gentleman with the help of an unknown benefactor.Twelve of this adaptation's thirteen episodes (1-7 & 9-13) are known to exist, and all but Part One are unavailable for public viewing
- StarsPaul DanemanZena WalkerDavid McCallumIntertwining tales of love, greed, and secret identities in 1860s London.A tightly scripted production with interesting characters and a wonderful blend of lavish sets and beautiful location work. It may have a complex, soap opera-like narrative and 50s TV acting, but it keeps interest throughout its lengthy run
- StarsWilliam RussellJennifer WilsonRichard WordsworthA young, compassionate man struggles to save his family and friends from the abusive exploitation of his cold-hearted, grasping uncle.No recordings of this production are known to exist
- StarsMervyn JohnsPeter WyngardeFred FaircloughDuring the turbulent days of the French Revolution, Frenchwoman Lucie Manette falls in love with Englishman Charles Darnay who's hiding his true identity and purpose.No recordings of this production are known to exist
- StarsRobert HardySonia DresdelEdna MorrisA gentle orphan discovers life and love in an indifferent adult world.No recordings of this production are known to exist