The Old Curiosity Shop
Dickens’ classic novel The Old Curiosity Shop has been brought to life with an all star cast for ITV1.
The much-loved Victorian tale stars veteran actor SIR DEREK JACOBI as Grandfather and TOBY JONES, critically
acclaimed for his role as Truman Capote in Infamous, as Dickens’ legendary villain Quilp.
The Old Curiosity Shop also stars ZOE WANAMAKER (My Family, Doctor Who), MARTIN FREEMAN (The Office,
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy), GINA McKEE (Tsunami: The Aftermath, The Forsyte Saga), BRADLEY WALSH
(Coronation Street), STEVE PEMBERTON (The League of Gentlemen, Benidorm), ANNA MADELEY (The Secret Life
of Mrs Beeton, Consent), JOSIE LAWRENCE (Whose Line Is It Anyway) and SOPHIE VAVASSEUR (Becoming Jane,
Evelyn) as Little Nell.
Further cast in the single drama, from Carnival Films, include ADRIAN RAWLINS (Harry Potter), ADAM GODLEY
(His Dark Materials, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory), BRYAN DICK (Bleak House, Sold), CHARLENE MCKENNA
(Breakfast on Pluto, Middletown), GEOFF BRETON (The Rotters Club, Blue Murder) and GEORGE MacKAY (Johnny
And The Bomb, Tsunami: The Aftermath).
Little Nell Trent (Vavasseur) lives with her doting grandfather (Jacobi) in his London shop. It is a
magical place, filled from wall to wall with dustladen treasures, known as The Old Curiosity Shop.
Grandfather keeps his nocturnal gambling activities a secret, borrowing heavily from evil, profiteering
loan shark Daniel Quilp (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, whilst on
the run from Quilp and his band of misguided money seekers. Meanwhile, Kit Nubbles (MacKay) – Grandfather’s
servant and Nell’s adoring friend - is contacted by the mysterious Jacob (Rawlins) 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...
