Dickensian: Who’s Who

Your guide to the iconic Charles Dickens characters who’ll be sharing the same universe in this opulent drama…

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AMELIA HAVISHAM

In Dickensian:

Romantic, beautiful but just a bit too naïve when it comes to the evil that men do, Amelia Havisham is a very eligible singleton. She, after all, is the heir to her father’s business fortune – and that makes her a very pleasing prospect for charming young buck Meriwether Compeyson. But is he hiding an ulterior motive?

In Dickens:

Miss Havisham is the iconic “jilted bride” of Great Expectations – a pale spectre in a tattered wedding dress, like a living waxwork, who has been trapped in time ever since she was left at the altar many years ago. She’s a vivid, witch-like creation, but Dickensian makes us see her in a whole new way: as the young and vibrant woman she once was.
BILL SIKES

In Dickensian:

A fearsome, thuggish presence on the streets of Victorian London, Bill’s true nature can be read in his scowling face. But he’s also capable of putting up a front of decency – a weapon of seduction when it comes to Nancy, the local girl he has his sights set on. But will Bill’s plans be thwarted when he’s implicated in a murder?

In Dickens:

Bill Sikes is one of Charles Dickens’ greatest villains. The nemesis of Oliver Twist, he’s a murky associate of the career criminal Fagin, and makes life a misery for all who know him. In Dickensian we see the lead-up to his adventures in Oliver Twist, and he’s every bit as untrustworthy.
EBENEZER SCROOGE

In Dickensian:

A wizened old moneylender, Ebenezer Scrooge exerts a ruthless influence on the poor, desperate people who come to him for cash. He works alongside the equally intimidating Jacob Marley, who bullies and extorts anyone who crosses his path. They make quite the pair of scoundrels.

In Dickens:

Everyone knows the story of Scrooge from A Christmas Carol. But here, in Dickensian, we see the pure, unadulterated, 100% proof Scrooge. With no ghosts turning up to show him the error of his ways, this is Ebenezer at his selfish and unfeeling worst, and poor old Bob Cratchit has to bear the brunt of it.
NELL

In Dickensian:

Heartbreakingly honest and virtuous in a world of villains, little Nell feels alone and adrift. The only person she can truly count on is her grandfather, and together they inhabit the cosy world of an old curiosity shop. Will Nell ever succeed in finding her place in life, and escaping the clutches of poverty?

In Dickens:

The tragic heroine of The Old Curiosity Shop, the character of Nell became a global sensation when her tale first went into print. It’s said that even readers in the United States clamoured for the next serialised chapter of the novel, to learn Nell’s fate. Dickensian delves into her backstory, and plucks at our heartstrings just as much as Dickens’ great novel does.
FAGIN

In Dickensian:

Ask Fagin if he’s a criminal, and he’ll probably just tell you he’s a survivor. Knee-deep in the squalor Victorian London, he relies on his wits and eager pickpocket minions to get by. He may be bad, but he’s not quite Bill Sikes bad – though that probably wouldn’t make for much of a defence in a court of law.

In Dickens:

Loveable old rogue or shameless exploiter of homeless children? The jury will always be out on Fagin, who scuttles through the pages of Oliver Twist. At times he’s almost an uncle (of sorts) to Oliver, but he’s too greedy and self-centred to be considered a friend to anybody. Just ask Dodger.
DODGER

In Dickensian:

Cutting quite a dash for a near-penniless street kid, Dodger knows how to duck and dive his way through life, but don’t be fooled by his cocky façade. He has a deep, emotional attached to his mentor Fagin, and acts as his spy and all-round sidekick. But will Fagin ultimately betray the ever-faithful Dodger?

In Dickens:

Stealing every scene in Oliver Twist, the Artful Dodger remains one of Dickens’ most beloved creations. The image of a young street urchin sporting an over-sized, adult coat and top hat has become one of the most iconic in literature (and film, and TV), but this version of the Dodger promises has a few surprises up his baggy sleeves.
INSPECTOR BUCKET

In Dickensian:

In a world of hot-headed ruffians, cavorting criminals and love-struck lads, Inspector Bucket stands apart. Cool, calm and impeccably methodical, he brings his forensic intelligence to the most grisly crimes. He’s as heroic as he is intelligent, and his sheer decency is a much-needed commodity around these parts.

In Dickens:

Brought to life in Bleak House, which many think is Dickens’ best book, Inspector Bucket is one of the very first literary detectives – directly inspiring future characters like Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marple. Clever and calculating, but also good-natured and sympathetic, his character is based on a real detective Dickens knew.
NANCY

In Dickensian:

She may be as entrenched in the underworld as her father-figure Fagin, but Nancy has retained her spirit and sense of right and wrong despite everything. The focus of Bill Sikes’ “romantic” attentions, will Nancy find herself drawn in by this perpetual wrong ‘un?

In Dickens:

One of the few “good” characters in Oliver Twist, Nancy is best known for two things: her turbulent relationship with Bill Sikes, and her nurturing compassion for young Oliver. But now we’ll see what life was like for Nancy before those figures entered her life, and it’s dark as you might imagine.