''The Pickwick Papers'' is a twelve-part BBC adaptation of the 1837 novel ''

The Pickwick Papers ''The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club'' (also known as ''The Pickwick Papers'') was Charles Dickens's first novel. Because of his success with ''Sketches by Boz'' published in 1836, Dickens was asked by the publisher Chapman & Hall to s ...

'' by

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...

, first broadcast in 1985. It starred Nigel Stock, Alan Parnaby,

Clive Swift Clive Walter Swift (9 February 1936 – 1 February 2019) was an English actor and songwriter. A classically trained actor, his stage work included performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company, but he was best known to television viewers for ...

and

Patrick Malahide Patrick Gerald Duggan (born 24 March 1945), known professionally as Patrick Malahide, is a veteran British film, television and theatre actor, author and producer, known, amongst other things, for his roles as Inspector Alleyn in ''The Inspect ...

, with narration by Ray Brooks.

Central characters

* Nigel Stock as

Samuel Pickwick Samuel Pickwick is a fictional character and the main protagonist in ''The Pickwick Papers'' (1836), the first novel by author Charles Dickens. One of the author's most famous and loved creations, Pickwick is a retired successful businessman an ...

– the protagonist and founder of the Pickwick Club. * Jeremy Nicholas as Mr.

Nathaniel Winkle Nathaniel Winkle is a fictional character in Charles Dickens's first novel, ''The Pickwick Papers'' (1836). A founder and younger member of the Pickwick Club created by the retired businessman Samuel Pickwick, Winkle is a young friend of Pickwi ...

– travelling companion and friend of Pickwick's; a reluctant sportsman * Alan Parnaby as Mr.

Augustus Snodgrass Augustus Snodgrass is a fictional character in Charles Dickens's first novel, ''The Pickwick Papers'' (1836). He considers himself a Romantic poet, though there is no mention of any of his own poetry in the novel. A founder and younger member ...

– another companion and friend; an amiable poet. *

as Mr.

Tracy Tupman Tracy Tupman is a fictional character in Charles Dickens's first novel, ''The Pickwick Papers'' (1836). Although fat and middle-aged he considers himself a young lover and has an unfortunate amorous entanglement with the spinster Rachael Wardle. ...

– another friend; a very flirtatious man *

Phil Daniels Philip William Daniels (born 25 October 1958) is an English actor, musician and singer, most noted for film and television roles playing Londoners, such as the lead role of Jimmy Cooper in ''Quadrophenia'', Richards in '' Scum'', Stewart in ''Th ...

as Sam Weller – Mr. Pickwick's valet *

Howard Lang Howard Lang (born Donald Yarranton; 20 March 1911 – 11 December 1989) was an English actor known for playing Captain William Baines in the BBC nautical drama ''The Onedin Line''. Early life Lang was born in Marylebone, London, the son of Edw ...

Tony Weller Tony Weller is a fictional character in Charles Dickens's first novel, ''The Pickwick Papers'' (1836). The irresponsible and care-free Tony Weller is Sam Weller's father. A loquacious coachman, the character never became as popular as his famous ...

– Sam's father; does not really know if his name is written as Veller or Weller *

as Mr. Alfred Jingle – a strolling player, and a charlatan * Colin Douglas as Mr. Wardle – friend of Pickwick's, a widower with two daughters *

Milton Johns John Robert Milton (born 13 March 1938), known professionally as Milton Johns, is an English character actor who has worked almost continuously throughout his career. A versatile talent, he specialises in sinister or obsequious roles and has f ...

as Mr. Perker – Pickwick's lawyer *

Pip Donaghy Philip Donaghy (born 1944) is a British actor who in a four-decade career has appeared in television, film and on stage. Donaghy who is best known by his stage name of Pip Donaghy trained at the London Drama Centre. He is a former member of the ...

as Job Trotter – Jingle's servant *

Jo Kendall Josephine Mary Kendall ( Robinson, 17 February 1940 – 29 January 2022) was a British actress and writer. She was known for her work on the BBC radio comedy show ''I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again'', which debuted in 1964, and for her role as P ...

as Mrs. Bardell – Pickwick's landlady

Other characters

* Dione Inman – Isabella Wardle * Valerie Whittington – Emily Wardle * Ned Williams – Master Bardell * David Nunn – Joe (Fat Boy) *

Patience Collier Patience Collier (born Irene Marjorie Ritscher; 19 August 1910 – 13 July 1987) was a British actress. Career Patience Collier began her theatrical career in Manchester. In 1956 she played Maria in Denis Cannan and Pierre Bost's ''The Power a ...

– Old Mrs. Wardle *

Freda Dowie Freda Dowie (22 July 1928 – 10 August 2019) was an English actress. She was born in Carlisle, Cumberland. She was married to the art critic and film-maker David Thompson. Her television credits include: ''Dixon of Dock Green'', ''Doomw ...

– Rachel Wardle * Hugh Ross – Jackson *

Tamsin Heatley Tamsin Heatley is a British actress. She has appeared on television programmes such as The Bill, The Young Ones (TV series), The Young Ones, Horrid Henry, Fimbles, Tweenies, Big & Small and various other children's television shows. Her father wa ...

– Mary * Sarah Finch – Arabella Allen *

Shirley Cain Shirley Cain (born Shirley Roberts; April 30, 1935) is a British actress of film and television. She graduated from RADA The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA; ) is a drama school in London, England, that provides vocational conservatoir ...

– Miss Witherfield *

Dallas Cavell Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...

– Roker * Gerald James – Dr. Slammer * John Patrick – Lt. Tappleton * Russell Denton – Waiter – Bull Inn * Anthony Roye – Dodson *

Kenneth Waller Kenneth Waller (5 November 1927 – 28 January 2000) was an English actor. He was known for portraying Grandad in '' Bread'' and Old Mr. Grace in ''Are You Being Served?'' Early life Kenneth Waller was born in Lowerhouses Huddersfield, York ...

– Fogg *

Alan Mason Alan Mason (1934-2014) was an Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He played for Balmain and Canterbury-Bankstown in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition. Mason later coached the c ...

– Dying prisoner * Paddy Ward – Wardle Manservant *

John Woodnutt John Edward Arthur Woodnutt (3 March 1924 – 2 January 2006) was an English character actor, often cast in villainous roles. Early life and education The younger son of Harold Frederick Woodnutt and brother of the Conservative MP Mark Woodnutt ...

– Sergeant Snubbin *

Michael Ripper Michael George Ripper (27 January 1913 – 28 June 2000) was an English character actor. He began his film career in quota quickies in the 1930s and until the late 1950s was virtually unknown; he was seldom credited. Along with Michael Gough ...

– Phunkey * Nicholas Jeune – Trundle *

June Ellis June Georgina Ellis Bromly (3 June 1926 – 26 June 2011) was an English film and television actress. She was married to director Alan Bromly (1915–1995). Filmography Film roles * ''The Angel Who Pawned Her Harp'' (1954) - Sally * '' Sky We ...

– Cook * Richard Henry – Lowten *

David Beckett David Beckett (born 25 October 1954) is a former English cricketer. Beckett was born at Oxford, and debuted for Oxfordshire in minor counties cricket in the 1976 Minor Counties Championship against Buckinghamshire. He played minor counties cric ...

– Benjamin Allen *

Deddie Davies Deddie Davies (born Gillian Nancy Davies, 2 March 1938 – 21 December 2016) was a Welsh people, Welsh character actress. Biography Davies was born in Bridgend, Wales. She trained at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, RADA and is most familiar to ...

– Mrs. Cluppins * Stephen Finlay – Bob Sawyer * George Little – Peter Magnus *

James Cossins James Cossins (4 December 1933 – 12 February 1997) was an English character actor. Born in Beckenham, Kent, he became widely recognised as the abrupt, bewildered Mr Walt in the ''Fawlty Towers'' episode "The Hotel Inspectors" and as Mr Watso ...

– Nupkins

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Pickwick Papers (1985) BBC television dramas Films based on The Pickwick Papers Television shows based on works by Charles Dickens 1980s British television miniseries 1985 British television series debuts 1985 British television series endings Television series set in the 1830s