James Walton

Felt like the product of a night in the pub: BBC1’s Great Expectations reviewed

The creators are entitled to make an irony-free Victorian political melodrama if they want – but don't claim it's Dickens

Olivia Colman as Miss Havisham. Credit: BBC One/FX NETWORKS
  • Comments

  • Great Expectations

    BBC1

Already a subscriber? Log in

Keep reading for free

Subscribe today to get 3 months’ free digital access.

  • Unlimited access to our website and app
  • Enjoy Spectator newsletters and podcasts
  • Explore our online archive, going back to 1828
  • Plus, three months’ free digital access to the Telegraph

Read next

Trending

James Kirkup

The state pension system is unfair. Reeves is right to change it

James Kirkup
Rachel Reeves is cutting £1.4 billion of pensioner welfare payments with her winter fuel payment means-test. It sounds like a big number, but it’s not. £152 billion is a big number. That’s the total value of welfare payments to pensioners in 2024/25. It’s more than we spend on the NHS. Taking the £1.4 billion annual

Also in Arts Reviews

Also by James Walton

Latest

Comments

Join the debate for free — this month only

This month, be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for free. We’ll also give you three months’ free digital access to the Telegraph.

Already a subscriber? Log in