Dickens’ classic novel The Old Curiosity Shop is being brought to life with an all star cast for ITV1. Little Nell Trent (Sophie Vavasseur) lives with her doting grandfather (Derek Jacobi) in his London shop. It is a magical place, filled from wall to wall with dust-laden treasures, known as The Old Curiosity Shop.
Grandfather keeps his nocturnal gambling activities a secret, borrowing heavily from evil, profiteering loan shark Daniel Quilp (Toby Jones). When he gambles away what little money they possess, Quilp seizes the opportunity to take possession of their beloved shop. It seems Nell and Grandfather are left with only one option - to escape. The pair fall in with a number of colourful characters, some villainous and some affectionate, on the run from Quilp and his band of misguided money seekers, including Nell’s own wastrel brother Freddie (Bryan Dick) and his gullible friend Dick Swiveller (Geoff Breton).
Meanwhile, Kit Nubbles (George MacKay) – Grandfather’s servant and Nell’s adoring friend - is contacted by a mysterious gentleman looking for news of the missing duo. But Quilp is not a man to tolerate competition, something they are all about to discover the hard way.
STARRING: Sophie Vavasseur, Derek Jacobi, Toby Jones, Adrian Rawlins, Gina McKee, Anna Madeley, Martin Freeman, Steve Pemberton, Zoe Wanamaker, Bradley Walsh, Josie Lawrence
WRITER: Martyn Hesford
DIRECTOR: Brian Percival
PRODUCER: Andrew Benson
BASED ON: The novel The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens
