''Great Expectations'' is a 1981

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

drama serial based on the 1861 novel by

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, journalist, short story writer and Social criticism, social critic. He created some of literature's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by ...

. It was directed by

Julian Amyes Julian Charles Becket Amyes (9 August 1917 – 26 April 1992), known as Julian Amyes, was a British film and television director and producer. Although primarily director and producer, Amyes also had acting roles in ''High Treason'' (1951) and ...

and adapted by James Andrew Hall.

Plot summary

Cast

Gerry Sundquist Gerald Christopher Sundquist (6 October 1955 – 1 August 1993) was an English actor. Early life Sundquist was born in Chorlton and grew up there with his older brother and younger sister. He developed an interest in acting at primary schoo ...

- Pip *

Joan Hickson Joan Bogle Hickson (5 August 1906 – 17 October 1998) was an English actress of theatre, film and television. She was known for her role as Agatha Christie's Miss Marple in the television series '' Miss Marple''. She also narrated a number of ...

Miss Havisham Miss Havisham is a character in Charles Dickens's 1861 novel ''Great Expectations''. She is a wealthy spinster, once jilted at the altar, who insists on wearing her wedding dress for the rest of her life. She lives in a ruined mansion with her ...

Stratford Johns Alan Edgar Stratford Johnson (22 September 1925 – 29 January 2002), known as Stratford Johns, was a British stage, film and television actor known for playing the role of senior CID officer Charlie Barlow, a character he originated in the lo ...

Abel Magwitch Abel Magwitch is a major fictional character from Charles Dickens' 1861 novel ''Great Expectations''. Synopsis Charles Dickens set his story in the early 19th century, setting his character Abel Magwitch to meet a man called Compeyson at the Epso ...

* Phillip Joseph - Joe Gargery * Sarah-Jane Varley - Estella *

Derek Francis Derek Francis (7 November 1923 – 27 March 1984) was an English comedy and character actor. Biography Francis was a regular in the Carry On film players, appearing in six of the films in the 1960s and 1970s. He appeared in '' The Tomb of Lig ...

- Jaggers *

Colin Jeavons Colin Abel Jeavons (born 20 October 1929) is a British retired actor and TV presenter. He is known for his character roles and has worked in theatre, television and film, especially in literary adaptations and roles related to the works of Char ...

- Mr. Wemmick * Tim Munro -

Herbert Pocket ''Great Expectations'' is the thirteenth novel by English author Charles Dickens and his penultimate completed novel. The novel is a bildungsroman and depicts the education of an orphan nicknamed Pip (Great Expectations), Pip. It is Dickens' ...

Linal Haft Linal Haft (born 23 March 1945) is an English actor, best known for playing controlling or manipulative characters in both film and television, most notably his role as businessman Harry Gold in the popular BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' from 20 ...

- Orlick *

Peter Whitbread Peter Bruce Pauling Whitbread (25 October 1928 – 26 October 2004) was an English actor and screenwriter. He was born in Norfolk, England and educated at Gresham's School, Holt, Norfolk. He had a long career in the theatre, including se ...

Compeyson Compeyson is the main antagonist of Charles Dickens' 1861 novel '' Great Expectations'', a ' George Wickham'-esque man, whose criminal activities harmed two people, who in turn shaped much of protagonist Pip's life. Compeyson abandoned Miss Hav ...

* Christine Absalom - Biddy * Iain Ormsby-Knox - Bentley Drummle * John Stratton - Uncle Pumblechook *

Marjorie Yates Marjorie Yates (born 13 April 1941) is a British actress best known for her role as Carol Fisher in the Channel 4 drama '' Shameless''. Early life Yates was born in Birmingham, West Midlands, and studied at the Bournville College of Art. ...

- Mrs. Joe Gargery *

Patsy Kensit Patricia Jude Francis Kensit (born 4 March 1968) is an English actress and singer. Beginning her career as a child actor, Kensit gained attention when she acted in a string of commercials for Birds Eye frozen peas. She went on to appear in films ...

- Young Estella * Peter Benson - Mr. Wopsle * Melanie Hughes - Clara Barley * Colin Mayes - Trabb's boy *

Graham McGrath Graham McGrath (born 29 July 1971) is an English actor with film, television, radio and theatre credits. He currently also works for Merlin Entertainments based near London in Surrey, England. He had tuition at the Junior Academy of the Royal Ac ...

- Pip (aged 9) * Paul Davies Prowles - Pip (aged 12) *

Tony Sympson Tony Sympson (10 July 1906 – 30 March 1983) was a British actor. Selected filmography * '' The Indiscretions of Eve'' (1932) - Pip * '' Sexton Blake and the Mademoiselle'' (1935) - Tinker * '' Sexton Blake and the Bearded Doctor'' (1935) ...

- Aged Parent *

Janet Henfrey Janet Ethne Anne Henfrey (born 16 August 1935) is a British stage and television actress whose career has spanned over 50 years. A familiar face on stage and screen since the 1960s starring in a variety of British Television favourites. She is ...

- Camilla

References

External links

* {{Great Expectations 1981 British television series debuts 1981 British television series endings 1980s British drama television series BBC television dramas 1980s British television miniseries Television series set in the 19th century Television shows based on Great Expectations Television shows set in Kent British English-language television shows