1/15. Greedy lawyers, hapless orphans and an aloof society beauty with a dark secret - some of the colourful characters in Charles Dickens 's novel, a scathing indictment of the Victorian legal system brought sumptuously to life in twice-weekly instalments by dramatist Andrew Davies and a vast, star-studded cast. Esther is sent to live with her guardian John Jarndyce, along with two wards of court embroiled in a bitter inheritance dispute.
(Continues tomorrow 8.30pm)
(More cast on Friday)
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Gill Hudson's hooked: p3; Bleak and beautiful: p10; TV's new soap: p40; Johnny Vegas - One Final Question: p