The original bbc serialisation of dickens' biting legal satire the one great principle of the english law is to make business for itself.? Dickens' elegant satire about a disputed inheritance and the self serving workings of the legal system gripped the public imagination in this classic 1959 tv series adapted by the prolific constance cox, best known for surprising viewers with her explosive oliver twist. Andrew cruickshank stars as john jarndyce and diana fairfax as his ward esther summerson in this delightfully complex comic drama. A mystery story in which esther uncovers the truth about her birth and her lost mother lady dedlock iris russell a murder story featuring one of the first detectives in english fiction, inspector bucket richard pearson at it's heart is a redemption tale about a desolate home transformed by compassionate love. Colin jeavons and elizabeth shepherd are esther's fellow wards and bequest rivals richard carstone and ada clare, and some of dickens' most colourful minor characters also sweep into view, including devious family lawyer tulkinghorn john phillips, hen pecked legal stationer snagsby lesley french, bird loving old maid miss flite nora nicholson, smitten clerk william guppy timothy bateson, moneygrubbing litigator vholes gerald cross, ill tempered moneylender smallweed terence soall and sozzled rag and bottle man krook wilfred brambell. A slick and satisfying examination of double dealing and injustice. Release date 21 08 2017