Originally published by L.S. Media. January 5th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating ****

Cast: Gillian Anderson, David Suchet, Douglas Booth, Ray Winstone, Shaun Dooley, Claire Rushbrook, Mark Addy, Jack Roth, Vanessa Kirby, Harry Lloyd, Tom Burke, Oscar Kennedy. Izzy Meikle-Small.

One of the big shows for the B.B.C. this Christmas period has to have been the latest big budget version of Great Expectations. An all-star cast, one of the biggest for a television series for a while on the channel, was greatly added to by newcomers Oscar Kennedy as the young Pip, Izzy Meikle-Small as the young misguided and manipulated Estella and a towering performance by Douglas Booth as the elder Pip.

Douglas Booth is young, there is no getting away from that fact but he has already proved in the last couple of years what a talented and engaging actor he is. Following on from his portrayal as 80’s iconic pop performer Boy George in the one off television show Worried About The Boy and his part in the television film Christopher and his Kind, Douglas looks as though even at the very beginning of his career he will be able to pick and choose his projects in the future with not too much worry of any type of typecasting issues.

This particular version of the Charles Dickens’ classic was adapted by Sarah Phelps and whilst retaining elements of the story that has served cinema goers and television audiences well over the years she has come up with a fresh and enthralling version. However these are brave times to be taking on big budget specials and brave times require brave casting and whilst heavyweight, established names such as David Suchet and Ray Winstone were exactly right for the parts of Jaggers and Magwitch respectively, the decision to cast the stunning Gillian Anderson as the jilted, obsessive, twisted and elderly Miss Havisham could have been a step of bravado by the makers as one too far.

With Gillian Anderson though, she is versatile and an actor of such impeccable talent that as soon as she appeared, dressed in white and with a mind that had become childlike, petty and tormented by the past, she lit up the screen. This was casting in its finest and creative defining moment.

Special mention must go to Harry Lloyd and Jack Roth for their character presentations. Harry Lloyd for taking on a part that was written by his famous great-great grandfather, to immerse yourself in to that kind of acting pressure is unthinkable to those of us who have no designs on entering the profession. It can only be equitable to those that follow their famous forbearers and the knowledge that every move they make in their job will be mulled over and analysed with keener eyes.

Jack Roth may not be a name that readily comes to mind of those watching the series. However hidden amongst higher profile names on show is a man who stunned audiences as lunatic Jimmy in the theatre production of the The Who’s Quadrophenia. Anybody who caught that particular show will appreciate the dynamic and off the wall style the man has.

Congratulations to the B.B.C. for producing yet another sumptuous and enthralling adaptation of one of Britain’s finest writer’s finest tales.

Ian D. Hall