Episode 1
The arrival of a circus challenges the provincial thinking of two local businessmen. Stars Kenneth Cranham and Philip Jackson.
Hard facts are all that provincial businessmen, Mr Gradgrind and Mr Bounderby feel are necessary in life. But the arrival of Sleary's circus in Coketown shows another way...
Charles Dickens's 1854 classic about struggles in the industrial north, dramatised in four parts by Doug Lucie.
Thomas Gradgrind ...... Kenneth Cranham
Josiah Bounderby ...... Philip Jackson
Mrs Sparsit ...... Eleanor Bron
Mrs Gradgrind ...... Thelma Barlow
Sleary ...... Derek Waring
Helen Longworth ...... Louisa
Rachael ...... Becky Hindley
Stephen ...... Alan Williams
Mrs Pegler ...... Marcia Warren
Francis Jeater ...... Mrs Blackpool
Mr M'choakumchild ...... Stephen Critchlow
Childers ...... Chris Moran
Josephine ...... Jaimi Barbakoff
A Boy ...... Gregg Prentice
Servant ...... Ioan Meredith
Waiter ...... Declan Wilson
Sissy ...... Stepanie Rawson
Bitzer ...... Alexander Slater
Tom ...... Nick Roud
Music by Nina Perry.
Director: Janet Whitaker
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2003.
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