Nicholas Nickleby

Released: 1977-03-27

Runtime: 60 minutes

Episode Overview

On the death of his father, Nicholas Nickleby travels to London with his mother and his sister Kate in the hopes that his uncle, Ralph Nickleby, might be in a position to offer them some assistance. Ralph Nickleby had little contact with his brother's family and feels no sense of obligation towards them. He's a hard hearted businessman who isn't at all surprised that his brother died penniless. His offer to Nicholas is to help him secure a teaching position which Nicholas manages to obtain with Mr. Squeers. Conditions are far from ideal however. As for Kate, her uncle arranges a position with a dressmaker.

Series Overview

Nigel Havers stars as the young Nicholas Nickleby in the BBC’s triumphant adaptation of one of Charles Dickens’ most celebrated novels. Upon the death of his father Nicholas, along with his mother and sister, finds himself destitute and at the mercy of his stern Uncle Ralph. Ralph cruelly dispatches his niece to a dressmaking establishment, while Nicholas is sent to a vile and oppressive boarding school for unwanted and unloved children run by the sadistic Wackford Squeers. Darkly satirical, angry, funny and hugely entertaining, Nicholas Nickleby is filled with the richest assortment of oddball characters that could only have originated from the quill of Charles Dickens.