Little Dorrit - Episode guide

Coming to BBC One this winter, Freema Agyeman, Matthew Macfadyen and Maxine Peake star in Andrew Davies's brand-new adaptation of Charles Dickens's novel, Little Dorrit.

Arthur Clennam is played by Matthew Macfadyen, Pet Meagles by Georgia King, Tattycoram by Freema Agyeman, Miss Wade by Maxine Peake, Amy Dorrit by Claire Foy, Mrs Clennam by Judi Parfitt and William Dorrit by Tom Courtenay.

Little Dorrit also stars James Fleet as Frederick Dorrit, Bill Paterson as Mr Meagles, Janine Duvitski as Mrs Meagles, Emma Pierson as Fanny Dorrit, Arthur Darvill as Tip and Russell Tovey as John Chivery.


Episode 1
Sunday 26th October 2008

The story begins as Arthur Clennam makes his way home to London after spending 15 years in China. In quarantine, in Marseilles, he meets Pet Meagles and her parents, also returning to England, and strikes up a friendship with hope of romance. But Arthur isn't the only one of the party hoping for a fresh start. Pet's companion, Tattycoram, is increasingly unhappy with her lot and, when she meets the mysterious Miss Wade, she sees the chance to escape.

Back home in London, Arthur is surprised to find a young woman, Amy Dorrit, working for his stern and forbidding mother. Mrs Clennam is a woman not ordinarily given to charity and Arthur immediately scents a mystery. Perhaps it has something to do with his father's dying words: "Your mother, Arthur. Put it right!" And so he sets himself the task of tracing whatever connection there may be between his father's guilt and this young woman.

Arthur's quest takes him to the Marshalsea prison for debt, where Amy lives with her father, William Dorrit – Mr Dorrit is a long-term debtor who hasn't been outside the prison walls for more than 20 years. Amy, his youngest child, is his help and support, looking after father, brother, uncle and sister, cheerfully and with the best of grace. Arthur's arrival in her life begins a story that will see the Dorrits's fortunes rise and fall along with those of a rich cross-section of London society. Landlords and rent collectors, plasterers, bankers, turnkeys, prisoners, gentlemen and paupers, wastrels and dancing girls, engineers, artists, dowagers and butlers and the most charismatic French villain since Napoleon all trip in and out of the story as Arthur and Amy walk the rocky road to love.


Episode 2
Thursday 30th October 2008

Arthur strikes up a tentative friendship with Amy Dorrit, resolving to help her in any way he can, as Andrew Davies's adaptation of Charles Dickens's novel continues. He remains suspicious that his family might have been involved in Amy's father's downfall, and that this is what was on his own father's conscience when he died. If he can prove it, he can help put an end to the Dorrit family's longstanding woes, for good.

Though his mother remains cold and distant, one person delighted to see Arthur again is his childhood sweetheart, Flora Casby, who immediately sets about winning back his affections. However, Arthur's mind is still on the pretty Pet Meagles, whom he met on his journey back to England. He's therefore pleased when a chance meeting with Pet's father, Mr Meagles, results in an invitation to spend the weekend at the family home in Twickenham.

Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away in France, the sinister and cold-blooded murderer Rigaud, who is seemingly unconnected with the story so far, becomes reacquainted with his old cellmate, Cavalletto, who unwittingly plants the thought in Rigaud's mind about the idea of coming to England.


Episode 3
Wednesday 5th November 2008

Amy is moved by Arthur's kindness in paying for her brother, Tip's, release from the Marshalsea, as Andrew Davies's adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic continues. She is so moved that she takes the enormous risk of going, accompanied by her friend, Maggy, to his lodgings to thank him, regardless of the fact that she'll miss the curfew at the Marshalsea and will have to spend the rest of the night on the dangerous streets of London.

John Chivery, the turnkey's son, is broken-hearted to see Amy's interest in Arthur. John has carried a torch for Amy since childhood and is now forced to galvanise himself in order to seize his chance with her before it's too late.

Meanwhile, Pancks, full-time rent-collector and part-time sleuth, takes charge of Arthur's investigations into his family's past, leaving Arthur free to visit the Meagles family in Twickenham. Pet Meagles is as pretty and sweet-natured as he remembered but her servant and companion, Tattycoram, is increasingly troubled. It transpires that she has been in contact with the strange, aloof Miss Wade, whom they all encountered in Marseilles. What does Miss Wade want with the vulnerable Tattycoram?


Episode 4
Thursday 6th November 2008

Sensing a rival in Arthur, John Chivery decides to make his move and propose to Amy, as Andrew Davies's adaptation of Charles Dickens's Little Dorrit continues. He is too late. Since she met Arthur, Amy knows she can never love John the way he needs her to and turns down his proposal. John is heartbroken – and Mr Dorrit is extremely put out that his daughter has upset the Chiverys, from whom he gets so much preferential treatment in the Marshalsea.

Arthur, meanwhile, entirely ignorant of Amy's growing feelings for him, is also disappointed in love when he meets Pet's rival suitor, Henry Gowan. However, he enjoys meeting the Meagles's family friend, inventor and engineer Daniel Doyce. Henry has been looking for a new business venture since his return to England. Could he have found the ideal partner in Doyce?

Cavalletto arrives in London, only to discover that he's been followed by the very man he came to England to get away from: Rigaud. Satisfied that he has frightened the life out of the little Italian, Rigaud goes to a back street tavern where he encounters Flintwinch's twin brother, Ephraim. When he sees the box containing Mrs Clennam's secret papers, Rigaud immediately senses an opportunity...


Episode 5
Wednesday 12th November 2008

Fanny invites Amy along with her to see Mrs Merdle, the mother of Fanny's admirer, Edmund Sparkler, as Andrew Davies's adaptation of Charles Dickens's Little Dorrit continues. She is also the wife of Mr Merdle, the spirit of the age, a successful banker and the richest man in the country.

Mrs Merdle goes to great pains to explain to Fanny why a match between a dancing girl such as herself and an extremely wealthy and eligible young man such as her son is not possible, but Fanny isn't easily intimidated and refuses to take Mrs Merdle's insults lying down. Meanwhile, Flora, who has sensed in Amy a rival for Arthur's affections, decides to keep her enemies close by inviting Amy to come and work for her. But is Flora justified in worrying about Arthur's feelings for Amy?

Pancks, when he's not being bullied by his employer, Mr Casby, continues his investigations into the connection between the Dorrits and the Clennams and hints to Amy about the possibility of an imminent discovery.


Episode 6
Thursday 13th November 2008

Pancks continues his investigation, recruiting John Chivery to help him with his enquiries, assuring him that it's all in the interest of his beloved Amy, as Andrew Davies's adaptation of Charles Dickens's Little Dorrit continues. He also recruits a lawyer, Mr Rugg. But all Pancks's flitting about the place does not go unnoticed, and Amy starts to wonder what he's up to. Meanwhile, determined to try his luck, Arthur returns to Twickenham to propose to Pet. However, Pet breaks the news to him that she has decided to marry Gowan and Arthur returns to London, thoroughly disheartened.

Behind him, in Twickenham, Tattycoram finally decides that she has had enough of being ordered about and storms out of the house – declaring that she is leaving for good. Meagles, deeply concerned for her welfare, enlists Arthur to help him find her. They correctly guess that she's gone to Miss Wade's, but will they be able to convince her to part from the woman who seems to have such a powerful hold over her?


Episode 7
Wednesday 19th November 2008

Rigaud visits Mrs Clennam's house, pretending that he's there on business, as Andrew Davies's adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic continues. Although Rigaud is in no rush to let on that he's in possession of the box containing her secret papers, Flintwinch is quick to realise the truth. Rigaud charms Mrs Clennam and she, little knowing the power he has over her, invites him to come back when he's ready to do business.

After swallowing his disappointment at being rejected by Pet, Arthur also swallows his pride and agrees to be Gowan's best man. He joins Mr and Mrs Meagles in sorrow at the union and reveals his bitter sentiments about the marriage to Amy. Pancks, meanwhile, has finally finished his investigations and prepares to reveal his incredible discovery to the Dorrits.


Episode 8
Thursday 20th November 2008

The Dorrits make their triumphant departure from the Marshalsea, while Arthur looks on in the knowledge that he may never see them again, as the Dickensian drama continues. Mr Dorrit has instructed that the friendship with Arthur be brought to an end as he wants to leave the past, and everyone in it, behind him.

Mr Dorrit wastes no time in employing that paragon of social virtue, Mrs General, to offer instruction in etiquette to his daughters. Mrs General suggests that the family goes on a Grand Tour and, before they know it, the Dorrits have left the country. Amy, however, doesn't leave without ensuring that her friends – the poverty-stricken Plornishes and Maggy – are well-provided for and everyone, especially Arthur, and even the cold-hearted Mrs Clennam, reflects on how much they will miss her.

The first person that the Dorrits encounter on their Grand Tour is Rigaud, who is travelling with the newly-wed Gowans. Much to Amy's discomfort, the alarming Frenchman seems to take a special interest in her...


Episode 9
Wednesday 26th November 2008

The Dorrits's Grand Tour takes them on to Venice, as Andrew Davies's adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic continues. Unlike the rest of the family, Amy is struggling to adapt to her new, wealthy lifestyle. Mr Dorrit can't understand why and begins to lose patience with her, particularly as she keeps making reference to the old days – the very times that he longs to obliterate from his memory. Amy's uncle, Frederick, is the only one who seems sympathetic to how she feels.

Back in London, Arthur finds himself missing Amy and throws himself into his work, resolving to take up Doyce's case at the Circumlocution Office. Amy and Arthur begin a correspondence and these letters, along with Amy's growing friendship with Pet, are what keep her going. However, every time Amy wants to see Pet, she finds she has to see Rigaud, too. And, much to her discomfort, Rigaud seems intent on finding out more about her – whether she likes it or not.


Episode 10
Thursday 27th November 2008

The English expats in Venice are thrown into each other's company a great deal, as Andrew Davies's adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic continues. While Mr Dorrit is overjoyed to be hobnobbing with the very cream of London Society abroad, Mrs Merdle is appalled to find her son, Edmund Sparkler, once more under Fanny Dorrit's spell. She will stop at nothing to prevent her son from such an ignoble match and enlists the help of her husband, Mr Merdle, to find any way they can of getting Sparkler away from Fanny.

Meanwhile, back in England, Mr and Mrs Meagles receive a visit from Henry Gowan's mother, the snobbish Mrs Gowan, who remains adamant in her self-invented myth that the Meagleses trapped her son into marriage. At the Clennam house Arthur encounters the stranger Rigaud, recently returned from Venice, on his mother's doorstep. He realises immediately that Rigaud is a criminal, but what business could he possibly have with Mrs Clennam?


Episode 11
Wednesday 3rd December 2008

Mr Merdle secures a position for Sparkler at the Circumlocution Office, as Andrew Davies's Dickensian adaptation continues. Mrs Merdle is, to say the least, gleeful at having got her son out of Fanny's clutches, but perhaps she is rejoicing too soon. Amy is thrilled to think that she might return to London should Fanny marry Sparkler, but her hopes are dashed when her father orders her to remain in Venice until she is fit to appear in Society.

Fanny, meanwhile, detects a hint of romance between her father and Mrs General and is determined that her despised chaperone will never become her step-mother.

Back in London, Pancks shows Arthur an official handbill announcing that the French traveller Rigaud, last seen at the House Of Clennam, is missing, presumed murdered. Arthur is horrified that his respectable, but icy, mother is suspected of foul play. When Cavalletto reveals that Rigaud himself is a murderer, Arthur rushes to Mrs Clennam to find out what has been going on and to try to clear her name.


Episode 12
Thusday 4th December 2008

Mr Dorrit returns to England with the newlyweds, Fanny and Sparkler, as the Dickensian drama continues. He is overawed by the splendour of the Merdle house and deeply flattered when Mr Merdle offers to help him invest his fortune.

Arthur also decides to invest the capital of Doyce and Clennam in Merdle's bank. He has big ambitions for the business and persuades Doyce of the need for expansion. Worried by the suspicion surrounding his mother's house over the disappearance of Rigaud, he commissions Pancks to find Miss Wade, in the hope that she can lead him to Rigaud.

Mr Dorrit meanwhile is greatly enjoying his new role in London society as the distinguished guest and friend of Mr Merdle. This, he feels, is the life he was born to. But the shadow of the Marshalsea Debtors' Prison is long and when faces from the old days begin to reappear, reminding him of the times he would rather forget, matters take a turn for the worse. Perhaps he would be safer in Italy after all...


Episode 13
Wednesday 10th December 2008

Mr Dorrit has returned to Venice a shadow of his former self. Unravelled by the constant reminders in London of his unhappy, shameful past, Mr Dorrit begins to fall apart while Amy looks on, powerless. His one remaining wish is for a future together with Mrs General, but is the contemplation of such a future enough to spur him on?

Meanwhile, Pancks discovers the whereabouts of Miss Wade for Arthur, who wastes no time in heading to her new address in Whitstable to ask her where he might find Rigaud. He's increasingly convinced that Rigaud's hold over the House of Clennam has something to do with the family's secret past – and he's determined to put a stop to Rigaud's machinations and uncover the truth about that past for himself.


Episode 14
Thusday 11th December 2008

Mr Merdle's death sends shockwaves through London, as it transpires that his phenomenal bank has gone bankrupt and the thousands of people who invested in him are facing financial ruin, in the final part of the Dickensian drama adapted by Andrew Davies. One of those unfortunate people is Arthur, who soon finds himself in the Marshalsea Debtors' Prison.

Amy, Fanny and Tip are also in dire financial straits, as it transpires that Mr Dorrit's money has also been lost in the great Merdles Bank collapse. But money troubles mean less than nothing to Amy when she learns that Arthur lies gravely ill in prison, and she leaves her sister and brother in order to go to Marshalsea to look after him.

Rigaud, meanwhile, who has been missing, presumed dead, re-emerges at full strength – finally ready, it seems, to reveal his full set of cards to Mrs Clennam. But what exactly does he know about the House of Clennam and, when she finds out, will Mrs Clenham finally give in to his threats?