Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Recalled To Life | 20111226 | 20240318 (BBC7) 20240319 (BBC7) | It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' this novel by Charles Dickens, tells the story of the redemptive powers of love in the face of cruelty, violence and neglect. Written and published in weekly instalments in 1859, A Tale of Two Cities is set in London and Paris before and during the violence of the French Revolution. 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 in the novel span eight years, the plot develops and builds powerfully from the moment 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 Classic story of love and loss in the French Revolution. Stars Robert Lindsay. London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. An encounter on the Dover Road, and a message. Stars Robert Lindsay. |
| 02 | The Old Order | 20111227 | 20240319 (BBC7) 20240320 (BBC7) | Lucie Manette stands as witness at Charles Darnay's Old Bailey trial for treason, where his defence team includes the dissolute Sydney Carton. Meanwhile, an incident in a Paris street stirs revolutionary fervour. Sydney Carton - Paul Ready Ernest Defarge - James Lailey Marquis St Evremonde - Clive Merrison Stryver - Simon Bubb Barsad - Gerard McDermott Mrs Cruncher - Adjoa Andoh Natty Cruncher - Daniel Cooper Gabelle - Adam Billington Attorney General - Paul Moriarty With Christopher Webster By Charles Dickens Lucie Manette is a witness at Charles Darnay's trial for treason at the Old Bailey. Charles Darnay is on trial for treason, and the dissolute Sydney Carlton is defending him. Stars Robert Lindsay and Andrew Scott. |
| 03 | Two Promises | 20111228 | 20240320 (BBC7) 20240321 (BBC7) | In a Paris wine shop information is exchanged about the courtship of Lucie Manette and Charles Darnay, and, in London, it appears that a wedding is indeed in the air. Miss Pross ... Alison Steadman Charles Darnay ... Andrew Scott Sydney Carton - Paul Ready Ernest Defarge - James Lailey Barsad - Gerard McDermott Natty Cruncher - Daniel Cooper Prison Warder - Simon Bubb With Adam Billington and Christopher Webster 1859 novel by Charles Dickens In a Paris wine shop, information is exchanged about a courtship. News of a courtship is exchanged in a Paris wine shop, while in London there is promise of a wedding. Stars Alison Steadman. |
| 04 | The Grindstone | 20111229 | 20240321 (BBC7) 20240322 (BBC7) | Against the heartfelt wishes of his new wife, Charles Darnay is now determined to travel to Paris to go to the aid of a family retainer imprisoned by the revolutionary committee. Miss Pross - Alison Steadman Sydney Carton - Paul Ready Ernest Defarge - James Lailey Court President - Paul Moriarty With Adam Billington, Rikki Lawton and Christopher Webster Novel by Charles Dickens Charles Darnay is determined to travel to Paris to go to the aid of the family retainer. Charles Darnay wants to go to Paris to help a family retainer imprisoned by revolutionaries. Stars Andrew Scott and Lydia Wilson. |
| 05 | The Substance And The Shadow | 20111230 | 20240322 (BBC7) 20240323 (BBC7) | Sydney Carton is in Paris with Lucie and her father, determined to try and save Charles Darnay's life. Then, an encounter in a Paris street with someone from the import-export trade, may just provide the ghost of a chance. : Miss Pross - Alison Steadman Sydney Carton - Paul Ready Barsad - Gerard McDermott Court President - Paul Moriarty Young Manette - Christopher Webster Young Evremonde - Adam Billington With Rikki Lawton and Alex Rivers By Charles Dickens Will it be possible to save Charles Darnay's life? In Paris, Charles Darnay has been released. But his freedom is short-lived. Stars Robert Lindsay, Andrew Scott and Paul Ready. |