Period drama serial The Prince and The Pauper was an early writing commission for actor Julian Fellowes, it was classic BBC Sunday afternoon serial fare based on the novel by Mark Twain about an urchin who swaps places with a prince who just happens to be his exact double – the prince then finds himself on the run with a man wanted for murder.
There was a previous BBC serial version in 1975 with Nicholas Lyndhurst as Tom & Edward and an even earlier one in 1955. There was also a big screen version in 1977 starring Mark Lester and Oliver Reed.
production details
UK / BBC1 / 6×30 minute episodes / 1996
Writer/Producer: Julian Fellowes / Novel: Mark Twain / Director: Andrew Morgan
cast
PHILIP SARSON as Tom and Edward
JENNY McCRACKEN as Mother Canty
JOHN JUDD as John Canty
LUCY SPEED as Nan Canty
JAMES PUREFOY as Miles Hendon
PETER JEFFREY as Duke of Norfolk
KEITH MICHELL as King Henry VIII
JOHN BOWE as Earl of Hertford
RICHENDA CAREY as Lady Milford
