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Episode 1

Arthur Clennam befriends seamstress Amy Dorrit and meets her extraordinary family at a debtor's prison. Stars Ian McKellen.

Arthur Clennam returns from China, fearful of a wrong committed by his parents.

Curious and feeling protective when he meets young seamstress, Amy Dorrit - he follows her home, to the Marshalsea Debtor's Prison, where he's introduced to her extraordinary family.

Charles Dickens's masterpiece of social satire and imprisonment, first published in 1855.

Dramatised in five parts by Doug Lucie.

Starring Sir Ian McKellen as Charles Dickens.

Recorded on location in London.

Charles Dickens ...... Ian McKellen
Arthur Clennam ...... Julian Wadham
Mrs Clennam ...... Margaret Tyzack
William Dorrit ...... John Wood
Little Dorrit ...... Jasmine Hyde
Flora Finching ...... Sophie Thompson
Fanny Dorrit ...... Indira Varma
Frederick Dorrit ...... Peter Tuddenham
Affery ...... Jennie Stoller
Barnacle Junior ...... Kenny Blyth
Maggy ...... Helen Ayres
Pancks ...... Philip Joseph
Flintwinch ...... Ioan Meredith
Tite Barnacle ...... Gordon Reid
Plornish ...... Jonathan Keeble

Music by Mia Soteriou.

Director: Janet Whitaker

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2001.

1 hour

Last on

Tue 3 Jan 202300:00

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