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Bleak House

Bleak House Poster

Bleak House is BBC television drama first broadcast in 1985. The serial was adapted by Arthur Hopcraft from Charles Dickens' novel Bleak House and it was the second adaptation by the BBC.

Drama

3.0 / 5

10th April 1985 - 29th May 1985
Director
Ross Devenish
Producer
Jonathan Powell
Top Cast
Denholm ElliottSuzanne BurdenJonathan Moore
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Episode 1 Still
Episode 1
10th April 1985

Episode 1

Young Esther Summerson, brought up as an orphan, is summoned to London by her guardian's solicitors. She is to meet the Wards of Court in Jarndyce and Jarndyce court case over a will, and become acquainted with her guardian John Jarndyce for the first time.

Episode 2 Still
Episode 2
17th April 1985

Episode 2

Esther is entrusted with the running of Bleak House.

Episode 3 Still
Episode 3
24th April 1985

Episode 3

Lady Dedlock ceases the case, Esther refuses an offer of marriage and Miss Flite collapses after a court hearing.

Episode 4 Still
Episode 4
1st May 1985

Episode 4

Lady Dedlock persuades Jo, a young crossing sweeper, to show her the haunts of the late Captain Hawdon. Richard's intended engagement to Ada perturbs Jarndyce, who considers it hasty, and they argue.

Episode 5 Still
Episode 5
8th May 1985

Episode 5

Smallweed presses George for documents in Captain Hawdon's handwriting, while Jo is questioned about the 'Lady' Tulkinghorn showed around London.

Episode 6 Still
Episode 6
15th May 1985

Episode 6

Esther becomes ill with smallpox, while Smallweed inherits Krook's property.

Episode 7 Still
Episode 7
22nd May 1985

Episode 7

Esther, severely scarred, has recovered from smallpox. She meets Lady Dedlock, who confesses that she is her mother. Jo has been found desperately ill and living rough, but dies soon afterwards. The lawyer Tulkinghorn, has been murdered in his rooms.

Episode 8 Still
Episode 8
29th May 1985

Episode 8

Richard, now married to Ada, continues the legal cause of Jarndyce.