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Bleak Expectations: The Complete Series 1
Join Anthony Head, Celia Imrie, Richard Johnson and Geoffrey Whitehead in this gloriously daft Victorian romp in the style of Charles Dickens after too much gin, first performed on the British Broadcasting Club’s Radio 4. Gasp at the evil Mr Gently Benevolent, played by Mr Anthony Head! Weep at the trials of our young hero Pip Bin, played by Master Tom Allen! Be moved to joy and sorrow by the remarkable narration of Mr Richard Johnson! Swoon at the fragile beauty of Pip’s poor Mama, played by Miss Celia Imrie! Wonder at the thespian prowess of Mr Geoffrey Whitehead as six different siblings! Follow the remarkable adventures of young Pip Bin as he struggles to rescue himself and his sisters from the schemes of his evil and badly-named guardian Mr Gently Benevolent, and the blood-curdling Hardthrasher family. Immerse yourself in a timeless epic featuring terrifying schools, even worse prisons, disguises, court-cases, shipwrecks, underwater squirrels and swash-buckling long-lost aunts. Revel in the many fine quips, characters and scenarios in these six magnificent episodes written by Mr. Mark Evans and produced by Mr. Gareth Edwards, previously renowned for their craftsmanship on the works of Messrs. Mitchell and Webb. Televised as 'The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff' on the BBC. ‘A joy!’ – Times. ‘We are amused’ – Independent.
- GenresHumor
Audio CD
First published September 20, 2007
2 people want to read
About the author
Mark Evans
7 books9 followersMark Evans is a Welsh comedian, actor, and writer.
He has written for many U.K. radio and television programmes, including That Mitchell and Webb Look (2006), The Late Edition (2006), That Mitchell and Webb Sound (2003, 2005), Popetown (2005), and Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway (2002-2003). The pilot of his BBC Radio 4 comedy series Bleak Expectations was recorded in 2006, and the full series, starring Anthony Head and Celia Imrie, was recorded in April 2007 and broadcast in August 2007. The second series was recorded in May 2008 and the third in June 2009. He has also appeared in That Mitchell and Webb Look, notably as David Mitchell's chiropractor; Saxondale (2006); and in several other television and radio programmes and commercials.
He has often written and performed with James Bachman. On 6 May 2008 they recorded the pilot of their BBC Radio 4 comedy Zoom, starring David Soul, Carla Mendonca and Jon Glover with a special guest appearance by Nicholas Parsons as himself.
He read Classics at Cambridge University, where he was president of Footlights.
From Wikipedia
He has written for many U.K. radio and television programmes, including That Mitchell and Webb Look (2006), The Late Edition (2006), That Mitchell and Webb Sound (2003, 2005), Popetown (2005), and Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway (2002-2003). The pilot of his BBC Radio 4 comedy series Bleak Expectations was recorded in 2006, and the full series, starring Anthony Head and Celia Imrie, was recorded in April 2007 and broadcast in August 2007. The second series was recorded in May 2008 and the third in June 2009. He has also appeared in That Mitchell and Webb Look, notably as David Mitchell's chiropractor; Saxondale (2006); and in several other television and radio programmes and commercials.
He has often written and performed with James Bachman. On 6 May 2008 they recorded the pilot of their BBC Radio 4 comedy Zoom, starring David Soul, Carla Mendonca and Jon Glover with a special guest appearance by Nicholas Parsons as himself.
He read Classics at Cambridge University, where he was president of Footlights.
From Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 14, 2023
Loved, loved, loved this! As someone who has never gotten into Dickens' novels, I found this the perfect antidote to my Dickensianless woes. Some of the jokes are a wee bit dated, but otherwise a fantastic production and I look forward to listening to the rest!
July 31, 2021
Oh, be still my heart.
After I found Old Harry's Game, a perennial favorite, I had to seek out other BBC Productions that I love, dearly. Lo, and behold, they had the entire Bleak Expectations series.
The best way to describe this as a surreal comedy barely similar to anything else I've ever seen, or read. The twists, and turns are pure ridiculousness, presented in the most pleasing melodramatic form. Dimwits, kindhearts, and mustached-villians are our characters that are involved in deeper, and deeper ...silliness is the only word I can attempt to describe this.
If you think it's preposterous in the first series, oh, just you wait!
After I found Old Harry's Game, a perennial favorite, I had to seek out other BBC Productions that I love, dearly. Lo, and behold, they had the entire Bleak Expectations series.
The best way to describe this as a surreal comedy barely similar to anything else I've ever seen, or read. The twists, and turns are pure ridiculousness, presented in the most pleasing melodramatic form. Dimwits, kindhearts, and mustached-villians are our characters that are involved in deeper, and deeper ...silliness is the only word I can attempt to describe this.
If you think it's preposterous in the first series, oh, just you wait!
December 13, 2024
This was my coming home audio book from Picton (another 6 hour journey), and VERY amusing it was too!
A piss take of Charles Dickens' novels, it had funny characters, a cracking, fast paced, idiotic plot, and all the actors did great work with their roles.
I think my favourite character was named Harry Biscuit (guess what his father invented?!), and there was also much merriment caused by an anvil.
Apparently there are another 4 series, if I ever go on a long journey again!
A piss take of Charles Dickens' novels, it had funny characters, a cracking, fast paced, idiotic plot, and all the actors did great work with their roles.
I think my favourite character was named Harry Biscuit (guess what his father invented?!), and there was also much merriment caused by an anvil.
Apparently there are another 4 series, if I ever go on a long journey again!
December 10, 2021
Fantastic! So hilarous!
Came for Anthony Stewart Head and got the most fun thing I've listened to since the The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy radio play!
All the thumbs up!
Came for Anthony Stewart Head and got the most fun thing I've listened to since the The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy radio play!
All the thumbs up!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews