Dramatised documentary on the life of Charles Dickens with Anton Lesser playing the famed author. There was the clever conceit of “interviews” with Dickens and the people in his life, including his father John (Timothy West) and rival novelist Thackery (Geoffrey Palmers. There were also clips from previous Dickens TV adaptations mostly from the BBC (but some from ITV too).
The documentary was presented by Peter Ackroyd who had written a celebrated biography of Dickens.
Cast: ANTON LESSER as Charles Dickens; TIMOTHY WEST as John Dickens; PRUNELLA SCALES as Elizabeth Dickens; MIRIAM MARGOLYES as Catherine Dickens; KENNETH CRANHAM as John Forster; GEOFFREY PALMER as Thackery; HELEN McCRORY as Kate Dickens; NATASHA LITTLE as Ellen Ternan
Presenter: Peter Ackroyd / Executive Producer: Andrea Miller / Director: Chris Granlund
UK / BBC Two / 3×60 minute episodes / Began 11 May – 25 May 2002
