Little Dorrit

I'm hooked on Little Dorrit, the BBC One serialisation of Dickens' novel. I'm so completely hooked I'm watching the Sunday omnibus editions as well as the twice-weekly episodes! A treat to look forward to on TV: unbelievable! The two leads - newcomer Claire Foy as Amy Dorrit and Matthew Macfadyen as Arthur Clennam - underplay their parts perfectly, leaving a host of strong character actors to ham it up as befits Dickens' OTT caricatures. Macfadyen surveys them all with a slightly bemused expression, likable yet with a touch of Victorian pomposity, while Claire manages to convey repressed emotions with a glance. Her gaunt beauty suggests deprivation, and her make-up artist and hair stylist have played to that look. Direction: best I've seen since David Lean's classic adaptations of Oliver Twist and Great Expectations. Sets, script, lighting, casting, music; all immaculate. If this series doesn't garner top awards, the judges should be drip-fed with an infusion of art.