Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Five Years Later | 20070328 BT=0500 (BBC7) 20070327 (BBC7) | London, The Manettes and Lorry attend a treason trial. The accused is an old acquaintance. With Charles Dance. Episode 2 of 7. London, The Manettes and Lorry attend a treason trial. The accused is an old acquaintance. With Charles Dance, Maurice Denham. Episode 2 of 7. | ||
| The Year 1775 | 20070327 BT=0500 (BBC7) 20070326 (BBC7) | 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...' It is 1775 and in Paris, an old man makes shoes in an attic. Episode 1 of 7. 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...' It is 1775 and in Paris, an old man makes shoes in an attic. Episode 1 of 7. | ||
| 03 | Promises | 20051019 (BBC7) 20051020 (BBC7) 20070328 (BBC7) 20070329 (BBC7) 20091104 (BBC7) 20091105 (BBC7) 20070329 BT=0500 (BBC7) | Monsieur Le Marquis infuriates residents in Paris. Lucie hears echoes of dark footsteps. Monsieur Le Marquis infuriates residents in Paris, and in London Lucie hears echoes of dark footsteps. Stars Charles Dance. An accident involving Monsieur Le Marquis inflames the growing anger of the residents of Paris. An accident involving Monsieur Le Marquis inflames the growing anger of the residents of Paris. Episode 3 of 7. An accident involving Monsieur Le Marquis inflames the growing anger of the residents of Paris. Episode 3 of 7. | |
| 04 | Beginnings | 20051020 (BBC7) 20051021 (BBC7) 20070329 (BBC7) 20070330 (BBC7) 20091105 (BBC7) 20091106 (BBC7) 20070330 BT=0500 (BBC7) | Mr Carton confesses his feelings, but across the Channel an air of vengeance is simmering. Mr Carton confesses his feelings, but across the Channel an air of vengeance and retribution is simmering. Stars Charles Dance. Revolution brews in France, and while Madame Defarge continues her knitting, Carton confesses his inner feelings. Carton's associate, the self important Mr Striver, intends to marry Lucy and cannot see why she won't accept him. Revolution brews in France, and while Madame Defarge continues her knitting, Carton confesses his inner feelings. Episode 4 of 7. Revolution brews in France, and while Madame Defarge continues her knitting, Carton confesses his inner feelings. Episode 4 of 7. | |
| 05 | The Storm Gathers | 20091106 (BBC7) 20091107 (BBC7) 20070331 BT=0500 (BBC7) 20070330 (BBC7) | Lucie's actions cause ructions, and France reverberates to the sound of marching mobs. Stars Charles Dance and Maurice Denham. As the Bastille falls, the echoing footsteps of the mob are heard as far away as London. Episode 5 of 7. As the Bastille falls, the echoing footsteps of the mob are heard as far away as London. Episode 5 of 7. | |
| 06 | The Track Of A Storm | 20051024 (BBC7) 20051025 (BBC7) 20070402 (BBC7) 20070403 (BBC7) 20091109 (BBC7) 20091110 (BBC7) 20070403 BT=0500 (BBC7) | With Darnay facing great danger in Paris, Lucie leads a rescue. Stars Charles Dance. Stars Charles Dance and Charlotte Attenborough. Darnay is in Paris and in great danger. Lucie and the others set out to rescue him. Can the Defarges be trusted? Darnay is in Paris and in great danger. Lucie and the others set out to rescue him. Can the Defarges be trusted? Episode 6 of 7. Darnay is in Paris and in great danger. Lucie and the others set out to rescue him. Can the Defarges be trusted? Episode 6 of 7. | |
| 07 LAST | The Knitting Done | 20051025 (BBC7) 20051026 (BBC7) 20070403 (BBC7) 20070404 (BBC7) 20091110 (BBC7) 20091111 (BBC7) 20070404 BT=0500 (BBC7) | With Darnay re-arrested and back in prison, Carton makes plans for his release. Stars Charles Dance and John Duttine. Darnay has been re-arrested and is now back in prison. Mr Carton plans to help, but he must make a huge sacrifice. Mr Carton plans to help, but must make a huge sacrifice. Darnay has been re-arrested and is now back in prison. Mr Carton plans to help, but he must make a huge sacrifice. Episode 7 of 7. Darnay has been re-arrested and is now back in prison. Mr Carton plans to help, but he must make a huge sacrifice. Episode 7 of 7. | |
| 01 | Recalled To Life | 20111226 | 20130514 | By Charles Dickens Dramatised by Mike Walker Episode 1/5: Recalled to Life Robert Lindsay leads a cast which includes Alison Steadman, Jonathan Coy, Andrew Scott, Paul Ready and Karl Johnson in a new dramatisation of Charles Dickens's classic, with original music by Lennert Busch. From the echo of the first line 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' to the final 'It is a far far better thing that I do than I have ever done', Dickens's novel of the French revolution tells a story of the redemptive powers of love in the face of cruelty, violence and neglect. A Tale of Two Cities won the Bronze Sony Award for Best Drama last year. Written and published in weekly instalments in 1859, A Tale of Two Cities is set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. It shows the plight of the French people under the brutal oppression of the aristocracy in the years leading up to the revolution, and the corresponding savage brutality of the revolutionaries toward the former aristocrats in the years immediately following. The story follows several characters through these events, notably Charles Darnay, a French former aristocrat who falls victim to the indiscriminate wrath of the revolution, and Sydney Carton, a dissipated English barrister who tries to redeem his ill-spent life out of love for Darnay's wife, Lucie Manette. Although the events covered in A Tale of Two Cities cover eight years, the plot develops and builds powerfully from the moment that the story opens, with the coded rumours of Dr Manette being 'restored to life' and Dickens orchestrates the wider political picture behind the story of Lucie, Darnay and Carton, with his customary brilliance. Music by Lennert Busch Directed by Jessica Dromgoole and Jeremy Mortimer This is the sixth Dickens novel that Mike Walker has dramatised for Radio 4. His dramatisation of Our Mutual Friend, also directed by Jeremy Mortimer and Jessica Dromgoole, was broadcast in the Woman's Hour drama slot in 2009. |
| 02 | The Old Order | 20111227 | 20130521 | Dramatised by Mike Walker Episode 2/5: The Old Order Lucie Manette is a witness at Charles Darnay's trial for treason at the Old Bailey, where his defence team includes the dissolute Sydney Carton. Meanwhile, an incident in a Paris street stirs revolutionary fervour. With Christopher Webster Music by Lennert Busch Directed by Jessica Dromgoole and Jeremy Mortimer. |
| 03 | Two Promises | 20111228 | 20130528 | By Charles Dickens Dramatised by Mike Walker Episode 3/5 - Two Promises In a Paris wine shop information is exchanged about the courtship of Lucie Manette and Charles Darnay, and indeed, in London, it appears that a wedding is indeed in the air. With Adam Billington and Christopher Webster Music by Lennert Busch Directed by Jessica Dromgoole and Jeremy Mortimer. |
| 04 | The Grindstone | 20111229 | 20130604 | Episode 4/5 - The Grindstone Much against the wishes of his new wife, Charles Darnay is determined to travel to Paris to go to the aid of a family retainer who has been imprisoned by the revolutionary committee. With Adam Billington, Rikki Lawton, Christopher Webster Music by Lennert Busch Directed by Jessica Dromgoole and Jeremy Mortimer. |
| 05 LAST | The Substance And The Shadow | 20111230 | 20130611 | By Charles Dickens Dramatised by Mike Walker Episode 5/5 - The Substance and the Shadow Sydney Carton is in Paris with Lucie and her father, determined to try and save Charles Darnay's life. An encounter in a Paris street with someone from the import-export trade may just provide the ghost of a chance. Music by Lennert Busch Directed by Jessica Dromgoole and Jeremy Mortimer. |
| 01 | Recalled To Life | 20111226 | 20130514 | By Charles Dickens Dramatised by Mike Walker Episode 1/5: Recalled to Life Robert Lindsay leads a cast which includes Alison Steadman, Jonathan Coy, Andrew Scott, Paul Ready and Karl Johnson in a new dramatisation of Charles Dickens's classic 'A Tale of Two Cities'. With original music by Lennert Busch. From the echo of the first line 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' to the final 'It is a far far better thing that I do than I have ever done', Dickens's novel of the French revolution tells a story of the redemptive powers of love in the face of cruelty, violence and neglect. The first radio dramatisation of the book for over twenty years is to be broadcast as part of the BBC's celebration of the bi-centenary of Charles Dickens's birth. Written and published in weekly instalments in 1859, A Tale of Two Cities is set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. It shows the plight of the French people under the brutal oppression of the aristocracy in the years leading up to the revolution, and the corresponding savage brutality of the revolutionaries toward the former aristocrats in the years immediately following. The story follows several characters through these events, notably Charles Darnay, a French former aristocrat who falls victim to the indiscriminate wrath of the revolution, and Sydney Carton, a dissipated English barrister who tries to redeem his ill-spent life out of love for Darnay's wife, Lucie Manette. Although the events covered in A Tale of Two Cities cover eight years, the plot develops and builds powerfully from the moment that the story opens, with the coded rumours of Dr Manette being 'restored to life' and Dickens orchestrates the wider political picture behind the story of Lucie, Darnay and Carton, with his customary brilliance. Charles Dickens...Robert Lindsay Jarvis Lorry...Jonathan Coy Miss Pross...Alison Steadman Lucie Manette...Lydia Wilson Dr Alexandre Manette...Karl Johnson Charles Darnay...Andrew Scott Ernest Defarge...James Lailey Therese Defarge...Tracy Wiles Gaspard...Simon Bubb Jerry Cruncher...Carl Prekopp Joe...Rikki Lawton With Adam Billington and Christopher Webster Music by Lennert Busch Directed by Jessica Dromgoole and Jeremy Mortimer This is the sixth Dickens novel that Mike Walker has dramatised for Radio 4. His dramatisation of Our Mutual Friend, also directed by Jeremy Mortimer and Jessica Dromgoole, was broadcast in the Woman's Hour drama slot in 2009. Lennert Busch recently graduated from the National Film and Television School in the United Kingdom. Recent work includes commissions for BBC2, BBC Radio 4, Al Jazeera and Channel 4. In 2010 Lennert composed the score for The Origin of Creatures by Floris Kaayk which was selected as the Dutch entry for the Academy Awards of 2011 and won several awards. An encounter on the Dover Road, and a message. Robert Lindsay leads a cast which includes Alison Steadman, Jonathan Coy, Andrew Scott, Paul Ready and Karl Johnson in a new dramatisation of Charles Dickens's classic, with original music by Lennert Busch. A Tale of Two Cities won the Bronze Sony Award for Best Drama last year. By Charles Dickens Dramatised by Mike Walker Episode 1/5: Recalled to Life Robert Lindsay leads a cast which includes Alison Steadman, Jonathan Coy, Andrew Scott, Paul Ready and Karl Johnson in a new dramatisation of Charles Dickens's classic 'A Tale of Two Cities'. With original music by Lennert Busch. From the echo of the first line 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' to the final 'It is a far far better thing that I do than I have ever done', Dickens's novel of the French revolution tells a story of the redemptive powers of love in the face of cruelty, violence and neglect. The first radio dramatisation of the book for over twenty years is to be broadcast as part of the BBC's celebration of the bi-centenary of Charles Dickens's birth. Written and published in weekly instalments in 1859, A Tale of Two Cities is set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. It shows the plight of the French people under the brutal oppression of the aristocracy in the years leading up to the revolution, and the corresponding savage brutality of the revolutionaries toward the former aristocrats in the years immediately following. The story follows several characters through these events, notably Charles Darnay, a French former aristocrat who falls victim to the indiscriminate wrath of the revolution, and Sydney Carton, a dissipated English barrister who tries to redeem his ill-spent life out of love for Darnay's wife, Lucie Manette. Although the events covered in A Tale of Two Cities cover eight years, the plot develops and builds powerfully from the moment that the story opens, with the coded rumours of Dr Manette being 'restored to life' and Dickens orchestrates the wider political picture behind the story of Lucie, Darnay and Carton, with his customary brilliance. Charles Dickens...Robert Lindsay Jarvis Lorry...Jonathan Coy Miss Pross...Alison Steadman Lucie Manette...Lydia Wilson Dr Alexandre Manette...Karl Johnson Charles Darnay...Andrew Scott Ernest Defarge...James Lailey Therese Defarge...Tracy Wiles Gaspard...Simon Bubb Jerry Cruncher...Carl Prekopp Joe...Rikki Lawton With Adam Billington and Christopher Webster Music by Lennert Busch Directed by Jessica Dromgoole and Jeremy Mortimer This is the sixth Dickens novel that Mike Walker has dramatised for Radio 4. His dramatisation of Our Mutual Friend, also directed by Jeremy Mortimer and Jessica Dromgoole, was broadcast in the Woman's Hour drama slot in 2009. Lennert Busch recently graduated from the National Film and Television School in the United Kingdom. Recent work includes commissions for BBC2, BBC Radio 4, Al Jazeera and Channel 4. In 2010 Lennert composed the score for The Origin of Creatures by Floris Kaayk which was selected as the Dutch entry for the Academy Awards of 2011 and won several awards. An encounter on the Dover Road, and a message. |
| 02 | The Old Order | 20111227 | 20130521 | Dramatised by Mike Walker Episode 2/5: The Old Order Lucie Manette is a witness at Charles Darnay's trial for treason at the Old Bailey, where his defence team includes the dissolute Sydney Carton. Meanwhile, an incident in a Paris street stirs revolutionary fervour. Cast Charles Dickens...Robert Lindsay Jarvis Lorry...Jonathan Coy Lucie Manette...Lydia Wilson Dr Alexandre Manette...Karl Johnson Charles Darnay...Andrew Scott Sydney Carton...Paul Ready Ernest Defarge...James Lailey Therese Defarge...Tracy Wiles Marquis St Evremonde...Clive Merrison Stryver...Simon Bubb Barsad...Gerard McDermott Jerry Cruncher...Carl Prekopp Mrs Cruncher...Adjoa Andoh Natty Cruncher...Daniel Cooper Gabelle...Adam Billington Attorney General...Paul Moriarty With Christopher Webster Music by Lennert Busch Directed by Jessica Dromgoole and Jeremy Mortimer. Lucie Manette is a witness at Charles Darnay's trial for treason at the Old Bailey. |
| 03 | Two Promises | 20111228 | 20130528 | By Charles Dickens Dramatised by Mike Walker Episode 3/5 - Two Promises In a Paris wine shop information is exchanged about the courtship of Lucie Manette and Charles Darnay, and indeed, in London, it appears that a wedding is indeed in the air. Charles Dickens...Robert Lindsay Jarvis Lorry...Jonathan Coy Miss Pross...Alison Steadman Dr Alexandre Manette...Karl Johnson Lucie Manette...Lydia Wilson Charles Darnay...Andrew Scott Sydney Carton. Paul Ready Ernest Defarge...James Lailey Therese Defarge...Tracy Wiles Barsad...Gerard McDermott Jerry Cruncher...Carl Prekopp Natty Cruncher...Daniel Cooper Prison Warder...Simon Bubb With Adam Billington and Christopher Webster Music by Lennert Busch Directed by Jessica Dromgoole and Jeremy Mortimer. In a Paris wine shop, information is exchanged about a courtship. |
| 04 | The Grindstone | 20111229 | 20130604 | Much against the wishes of his new wife, Charles Darnay is determined to travel to Paris to go to the aid of a family retainer who has been imprisoned by the revolutionary committee. Cast Charles Dickens...Robert Lindsay Jarvis Lorry...Jonathan Coy Miss Pross...Alison Steadman Dr Alexandre Manette...Karl Johnson Lucie Manette...Lydia Wilson Charles Darnay...Andrew Scott Sydney Carton... Paul Ready Ernest Defarge...James Lailey Therese Defarge...Tracy Wiles Jerry Cruncher...Carl Prekopp Court President... Paul Moriarty With Adam Billington, Rikki Lawton, Christopher Webster Music by Lennert Busch Directed by Jessica Dromgoole and Jeremy Mortimer. Charles Darnay is determined to travel to Paris to go to the aid of the family retainer. Episode 4/5 - The Grindstone Much against the wishes of his new wife, Charles Darnay is determined to travel to Paris to go to the aid of a family retainer who has been imprisoned by the revolutionary committee. Cast Charles Dickens...Robert Lindsay Jarvis Lorry...Jonathan Coy Miss Pross...Alison Steadman Dr Alexandre Manette...Karl Johnson Lucie Manette...Lydia Wilson Charles Darnay...Andrew Scott Sydney Carton... Paul Ready Ernest Defarge...James Lailey Therese Defarge...Tracy Wiles Jerry Cruncher...Carl Prekopp Court President... Paul Moriarty With Adam Billington, Rikki Lawton, Christopher Webster Music by Lennert Busch Directed by Jessica Dromgoole and Jeremy Mortimer. Charles Darnay is determined to travel to Paris to go to the aid of the family retainer. |
| 05 LAST | The Substance And The Shadow | 20111230 | 20130611 | By Charles Dickens Dramatised by Mike Walker Episode 5/5 - The Substance and the Shadow Sydney Carton is in Paris with Lucie and her father, determined to try and save Charles Darnay's life. An encounter in a Paris street with someone from the import-export trade may just provide the ghost of a chance. Cast Charles Dickens...Robert Lindsay Jarvis Lorry...Jonathan Coy Miss Pross...Alison Steadman Dr Alexandre Manette...Karl Johnson Lucie Manette...Lydia Wilson Charles Darnay...Andrew Scott Sydney Carton... Paul Ready Therese Defarge...Tracy Wiles Jerry Cruncher...Carl Prekopp Barsad... Gerard McDermott Court President... Paul Moriarty Young Manette... Christopher Webster Young Evremonde... Adam Billington With Rikki Lawton and Alex Rivers Music by Lennert Busch Directed by Jessica Dromgoole and Jeremy Mortimer. Charles Darnay has been released. But his freedom is shortlived. |