Great Expectations

Original version

BBC One Oxfordshire HD

Drama: Classic & Period

Orphan Pip's life changes forever when he meets wealthy Miss Havisham and her daughter.

A twist of fate shows Pip a dark world of possibilities, but is he willing to pay the price? Steven Knight's chilling take on the Dickens classic, starring Olivia Colman.

Series 1

Simulcast of network BBC One in high definition. From 03/11/2010

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Fionn Whitehead

Tom Sweet

Olivia Colman

Shalom Brune-Franklin

Ashley Thomas

Laurie Ogden

Owen McDonnell

Hayley Squires

Matt Berry

Steven Knight

Brady Hood

Mark Kinsella

Minim UK Productions

Great Expectations: Series 1: Episode 2

Episode 2

BBC One - Great Expectations, Series 1, Episode 2

Miss Havisham continues to teach Pip to become a man, but he soon meets evil Mr Jaggers.

As Pip continues his education with Miss Havisham, he becomes attached to her daughter, Estella. In London, the evil lawyer Mr Jaggers gets a letter that changes Pip’s life forever.

Pip's greatest desire is to learn from Miss Havisham and Estella how to become a gentleman. As he begins to learn the ways of the world, two men are about to hang, but lawyer Mr Jaggers blackmails the judge into pardoning his client. Back at home, Mr Pumblechook declares that Pip should continue his education with Miss Havisham - and be paid handsomely for it. Pip enlists Biddy’s help, offering to pay her out of the allowance he will receive, but she refuses. He fails to see that the only reason Biddy helps him is that she loves him.

Pip’s education begins in earnest, but Miss Havisham has a proposal for Jaggers regarding Pip, one which neither she nor Jaggers will ever admit to the boy. Seeking revenge against all men for her past injuries, Miss Havisham intends to have Jaggers throw Pip to the wild wolves of London. Blissfully unaware of the changes on his horizon, Pip continues his life with Joe. Together they make and sell manacles, shackles and chains for the prison ships moored nearby. Pip will not countenance selling the chains for use in the slave trade, although it would be much more lucrative.

However, Miss Havisham soon offers Pip an opportunity that is too good to turn down: a bag of the finest opium, which he might sell for no less than £6. This is more than Pip can hope to make on his own, and more than enough to buy a suit of clothes to disguise the blacksmith’s boy behind finery and in imitation of the gentleman he might yet become. But it comes with the understanding that his education is over and he is no longer welcome at the Havisham house. Estella is distraught at Miss Havisham’s decision to send Pip away. Pip heads to the local tavern to drown his sorrows, and just as he passes out from too much rum, Mr Jaggers enters his life.

Great Expectations: Series 1

BBC One

Once poor, orphaned Pip meets wealthy Miss Havisham and her daughter Estella, his life changes forever. Thrown into the dangerous city of London, he must battle to control his fate.

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Great Expectations

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