BBC period drama fans rave about fantastically cast 'unrecognisable' The Crown star
The BBC adaption of Charles Dickens' novel may have been released over a decade ago, but it is still being enjoyed today by fans who are rediscovering the series
Viewers are rekindling their love for a 2008 costume drama that has brilliantly encapsulated a classic Dickensian narrative, led by a "fantastic cast", which includes an actress whose transformation is spellbinding.
'Little Dorrit', a BBC miniseries, dives into Charles Dickens's lesser-celebrated eponymous novel set in the 1850s. The plot tracks the peculiar existence of Amy Dorrit who, for twenty-one years, lived within the confines of a debtors' prison with her father.
The tale takes a turn when Amy encounters Arthur Clennam, who, in pursuit of his family's elusive legacy, discovers it to be mysteriously connected to the Dorrit family. In seeking answers, Clennam is introduced to diverse individuals through Amy's gentle spirit, from the extraordinarily wealthy to those barely scraping by.
Set amidst the class disparities of Victorian England, Dickens's signature commentary on social inequities underpins the series. However, viewers have found 'Little Dorrit' to have an engaging charm despite the sombre undertones.
Praise for the show also appears on Rotten Tomatoes, stating: "This is a great BBC mini-series; though most of their mini-series are really good. The story has so many characters and smaller plots going on that one really must pay attention to everything. The casting was also brilliant.", reports Surrey Live.
"Matthew Macfadyen and Claire Foy gave their characters such life and had so many subtleties. Andy Serkis, who played Rigaud, was also amazing; you had your eyes on him in every scene he was in."
While another viewer added: "I absolutely loved this movie. I think it may have even surpassed the BBC's marvellous representation of Pride and Prejudice...in my opinion."
British actress Claire Foy takes on the role of Amy Dorrit in the series, a stark contrast to her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in The Crown, making her almost unrecognisable. This early part was crucial for Foy, marking her emergence well before she reached the pinnacle of fame with roles in Season of the Witch, The Girl in the Spider's Web, and Unsane.
She is joined by a stellar lineup of British talent, including Matthew Macfadyen as Arthur Clennam and Andy Serkis, better known for his work in Lord of The Rings, as Rigaud. Screen legends Tom Courtenay and Sue Johnston are also amongst the cast enriching the BBC adaptation.
One critique says: "This mini-series is almost perfect. Great costumes and sets. Great camera work. Fantastic acting all around. Everyone inhabits their characters completely. A good amount of humour too amongst the Dickensian bleakness. However, I don't think all the loose ends were tied up very well.."
Another viewer wrote: "I don't know how this compares to the book, but this series is engaging and has a touch of mystery to it that keeps you eagerly watching to see how all the varied parties are interconnected in the end. Wonderful acting as well. A worthy period drama."
The overlooked gem of a period drama, Little Dorrit, can be streamed on BBC iPlayer.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
36 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
'I've visited 24,000 boozers on 40 year pub crawl - these are my favourites'
Peter Hill has supped an incredible 60,000 pints on a mammoth pub crawl which has seen him visit 24,000 boozers across the UK in a 40 year pub crawl quest to visit every CAMRA guide pub Real ale fan Peter Hill has supped an incredible 60,000 pints on a mammoth pub crawl which has seen him visit 24,000 boozers across the UK. He celebrated his 69th birthday in the Elephant & Castle, at the Black Country Living Museum, in Dudley, as he continued his quest to visit every pub in the CAMRA guide. He has enjoyed a pint in every corner of the UK along with his drinking crew – the Black Country Ale Tairsters – and has even had a pint in pubs on 69 islands around the UK. The retired engineer has travelled over 400,000 miles since he started in 1984 and logs every pub he has visited at his West Bromwich home. He said: 'Every pub is logged, since number one, and I have over 300 lever arch files with photos, cards and a write up of the pubs. I leave a calling card which I have signed by a pub team member to prove I have been in.' In every pub he visits Peter asks the landlord to make a £1 donation to the Midland Air Ambulance and has so far raised over £35,000. He said: 'Some give a quid, some give a tenner, some £20 and some give nowt. But it's a great charity.' Peter started his journey when he and his pals started visiting pubs listed on a map handed out by Wolverhampton based Banks brewery. After visiting 300 pubs in a year they decided to continue. He said: 'It's taken me 41 years but I've now visited 24,000 pubs, but there are still hundreds more to go. We all love our real ale, but we don't overdo it, 'We have visited every single island with a pub around the British Isles, 69 of them. We've been to the Shetlands, Orkneys, Jersey, Guernsey. It's been a great adventure. I'm going to North Yorkshire next weekend for four days and then Essex after that, so we'll chalk up a few more on the list. Sometimes I'm on my own, but mostly it's a really good crew I travel with. It's brilliant fun. 'We've travelled across Europe too, to the military sites, the Somme, the Maginot line, the British war graves. We learn about the history and we visit the local pubs too, but they don't count on the list. One of the greatest people we found was a guy from World War 2 who used to look after the SAS war graves in France, He was 92 when we met him.' Peter added: 'I love unusual pubs, pubs with something that makes them stand out. Pubs full of character and antiques. We love our real ales but we also try the stouts and milds.' Peter also backed The Mirror 's Save Our Pubs campaign - which calls for a "fighting fund" to help struggling pubs, recognising good pubs are the heart of the community. The campaign is crucial because pub closures have a significant impact on communities, leading to job losses and the loss of important social spaces. More than 400 pubs closed for good in England and Wales last year meaning the number of locals has dropped below 39,000 for the first time. Peter said: 'The local pub is vital in so many areas. You can meet for a chat and a laugh. But the prices are ridiculous now. You can pay £7 for a pint. 'There's the business costs, the taxes, the minimum wage doesn't help. Landlords have to cover the costs and it's a shame so many are closing. The government does need to do more to help.' Peter's top five pubs: Yew Tree Inn, Caulden Staffs: 'You've got to see it to believe it. It's fantastic, full of antiques.' The Mug House, Claines, Worcester: 'A cracking old pub next to a church yard.' The Black Lion, Consall Forge, North Staffs: 'Amazing scenery, next to an old steam railway and canal. It was hard to find, but it's easy now with Sat Nav.' The Rising Sun, Tipton: 'My local, I can't leave that out.' Payton Arms, Stoke Lyne, Oxfordshire: 'A fantastic, unique place. If you like character and cobwebs, this is the one.'
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Dua Lipa 'blown away' as she becomes emotional during sold-out Wembley show
EXCLUSIVE: Dua Lipa was overcome with emotion as she took to the stage for her first sold-out concert at Wembley Stadium on Friday, admitting it had always been her dream Dua Lipa was overcome with emotion as she fulfilled her ultimate dream. The global mega-star has had a fast rise to fame since she first emerged in the music industry, and she's showing no signs of slowing down. On Friday, she headlined Wembley Stadium for the first time on the first of two nights at the home of English football, before moving on to Anfield in Liverpool. But the British and Albanian star couldn't believe what was happening as she addressed the sold-out crowd who'd flocked to north-west London to see her perform. Fans had been camping out at the stadium since Thursday, hoping to get to the very front row to see their idol deliver her biggest hits. Addressing the crowd, Dua said: "It means the absolute world to me that you're here tonight. It feels really special to be here today." The Levitating songstress continued: "It's been ten years since our first ever London show, which happened to be about 350 people, and I dreamt of a night like this that I get to be in front of 70,000 people. I'm so, so blown away." Dua, who joins a small club of female solo artists to headline the stadium, reflected on her career, admitting she believes one song changed her life, after she was signed to her management and record label. That song was Hotter Than Hell, which was fitting as the UK enjoyed its hottest day of the year. But Dua made sure to pull out all the stops for her first night at the iconic venue with a special guest appearance from Jamiroquai. Dua and Jamiroquai performed an incredible duet of the 1996 hit, Virtual Insanity, for her Radical Optimism tour. Vocalist Jay Kay was rocking a classic black hat with a purple trim and a white fringe jacket for the surprise performance, along with purple trousers. Fans were over the moon with the shock guest and rushed to social media to share their excitement, with one user revealing they "wish" they were at the concert in London to witness the duet. The Londoner joins Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Adele, P!NK and Rihanna as one of the few women to have headlined the stadium. She performed her anthems, including Training Season, One Kiss, Levitating, Physical, Electricity, New Rules, Be the One, Don't Start Now and Houdini. Dua was just 17 when she was first discovered by her long-term manager, Ben Mawson, who said the singer has "it all." Speaking to Music Week in 2020, he revealed: "Dua told me she aspired to be Madonna when I met her, when she was 17, and there was something about the way she said it that made me believe her! "It was about her personality, her charisma, her competitiveness and her drive, and that came across. Dua's got it all, so she's unlimited potential." The singer rose to fame with her 2016 hit Be The One followed by her 2017 break-up anthem, New Rules. Since then, she has won several Brit Awards and three Grammys and headlined Glastonbury Festival last year shortly after the release of her third studio album Radical Optimism, which hit number one on the UK albums chart. Her 2020 Future Nostalgia album also reached number one, while her debut self-titled album, Dua Lipa, reached number three. She is the youngest person to feature on this year's Sunday Times 40 Under 40 Rich List, making her one of the wealthiest musicians in the UK. The singer was recently named the most played artist across radio, TV and public places in the UK for a second time by music licensing company Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL).
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Watch awkward moment man stops orgy with three women after getting stage fright on Open House The Great Sex Experiment
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN awkward moment on Open House saw a man stop a wild orgy with three women after getting stage fright. The Channel 4 show sees monogamous couples move into a house alongside 'sexperts' and explore having an open relationship. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 An awkward moment on Open House saw an orgy stopped Credit: Channel 4 3 Simon look flustered as he put a stop to things Credit: Channel 4 3 He drank some water to calm his nerves Credit: Channel 4 However, one participant, Simon, struggled as he put a stop to romping with three women. He entered the retreat alongside his fiancé Chris, to explore whether they're attracted to women. While Simon looked visibly flustered, one of the women gave him a drink of water. He said: "Might just be a bit of stage fright, part of it is also... there's a lot going on. "I'm just, like, processing everything at once. This is something very new for me." Viewers previously slammed a mum-of-six for "making a fool" of her husband. Amy attracted the ire of horrified fans for passionately kissing a woman in front of her hubby Claude in a hot tub. Amy had told the cameras how she previously enjoyed a polyamorous lifestyle and wanted to return to it despite hers and Claude's monogamous marriage. Claude admitted he had always stuck to one partner and was struggling with the idea of seeing his wife with someone else. But despite his obvious reservations, Amy wasted no time in snogging a woman called Georgie in front of him while sitting in a steamy hot tub. Awkward moment mum-of-six 'makes a fool out of husband' on Channel 4's The Open House in bid to SAVE their marriage A fan penned: "Amy, if you end up on your own with 6 kids I'll have no sympathy." Another commented: "Amy's mocking her husband." And a third said: "I think it's unfair that Amy entered into a monogamous marriage and now wants to change the rules AND for her husband to be happy with that, when he's clearly not." Someone else remarked: "Amy just wants a way out of the relationship, making a fool of her partner." Despite Claude's reluctance to get on board with the idea, Amy told the cameras that she believed he was only closed off to polygamy because it is "not what society dictates". But another viewer blasted: "No Amy he is not holding back cos society tells him it is not normal, he is holding back cos he doesn't want to do this!" Another couple taking part, Sarah and Jonny, opened up about how things have become awkward during the school run. Open House The Great Sex Experiment airs on Channel 4.
