Charles Dickens probably didn't imagine Pip as a drug-addicted, angst-ridden anti-hero, but Steven Knight certainly did. When the Great Expectations cast BBC lineup was first announced for the 2023 miniseries, people were skeptical. Actually, "skeptical" is an understatement. Purists were basically up in arms. You had Fionn Whitehead—the quiet, intense lead from Dunkirk—stepping into the shoes of Pip, and Olivia Colman taking on the monumental task of playing Miss Havisham.
It was a bold move.
Knight, the mind behind Peaky Blinders, didn't just want to retell the story; he wanted to dismantle it. He took the 1861 classic and infused it with a gritty, modern sensibility that focused on the rot beneath the Victorian surface. The result was a cast that felt less like caricatures from a dusty textbook and more like desperate people trapped in a crumbling empire.
The Casting Gamble: Fionn Whitehead and Olivia Colman
Most people know the story of Pip. A poor orphan gets a mysterious windfall and tries to become a gentleman to win the heart of a cold, beautiful woman. In this version, Whitehead plays Pip with a visible chip on his shoulder. He’s not just a victim of circumstance; he’s angry. It’s a performance that relies heavily on silence.
Whitehead’s Pip is a far cry from the wide-eyed versions we’ve seen in the past. Honestly, he’s kind of a jerk at times. But that’s the point. Knight wanted to show how the pursuit of social status can erode a person’s soul.
Then there’s Olivia Colman.
Taking on Miss Havisham is a massive risk for any actress. You’re following in the footsteps of legends like Helena Bonham Carter and Gillian Anderson. Colman’s Havisham isn't just a jilted bride waiting in a decaying wedding dress; she’s an opium-addicted puppet master. Critics were divided on the interpretation, but you can’t deny Colman’s magnetism. She brings a tragic, almost pathetic vulnerability to a character that is usually played as a straight-up villain.
Shalom Brune-Franklin plays Estella. She’s perhaps the most grounded member of the Great Expectations cast BBC team. In this adaptation, Estella isn't just a cold beauty; she’s a survivor. You see the calculation in her eyes. She knows she’s a tool being used by Havisham, and she’s trying to figure out how to reclaim her own agency in a world that views her as a trophy.
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Breaking Down the Supporting Players
It’s not just about the leads. The supporting cast is what really fills out the world of the marshes and the London slums.
- Ashley Thomas as Jaggers: Usually, Jaggers is played as a dry, legalistic figure. Thomas turns him into something much more intimidating. He’s a fixer. He’s the guy who knows where the bodies are buried, and he plays the role with a smooth, terrifying confidence.
- Johnny Harris as Magwitch: This is where the show gets its heart. Harris is a powerhouse. His Magwitch is terrifying in the opening scenes on the marshes, but as the series progresses, you see the paternal desperation that drives him. It’s a messy, sweaty, visceral performance.
- Matt Berry as Mr. Pumblechook: Yes, that Matt Berry. Seeing the star of What We Do in the Shadows in a Dickens adaptation was a surprise for many. He provides the much-needed (and very dark) comic relief. He’s arrogant, buffoonish, and exactly what you’d expect from Berry, yet he fits perfectly into Knight’s twisted London.
- Owen McDonnell as Joe Gargery: Joe is the moral compass of the story. McDonnell plays him with a quiet dignity that serves as a sharp contrast to the chaos surrounding Pip. He’s the only person who doesn't want anything from Pip except his happiness.
Why This Specific Cast Mattered for the Adaptation
Knight’s script was polarizing. There’s no getting around that. He added subplots involving the British Empire's colonial sins and more explicit themes of addiction and abuse. Because the material was so heavy, the Great Expectations cast BBC had to be capable of carrying that weight without drifting into melodrama.
They had to be "real."
Think about the chemistry between Whitehead and Brune-Franklin. It’s not a fairy-tale romance. It’s a collision of two damaged people. If the actors hadn't played it with such raw intensity, the whole thing would have collapsed under the weight of its own darkness.
There’s also the matter of diversity. This cast reflects a modern Britain, which some viewers felt was "inaccurate" for the time period. However, historians have pointed out for years that Victorian London was a melting pot. By casting actors like Ashley Thomas and Shalom Brune-Franklin, the production acknowledged the reality of the era that many previous adaptations ignored. It added a layer of social commentary that Dickens—who was a social reformer himself—might have actually appreciated.
The Backlash and the Brilliance
Not everyone loved it.
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The Daily Mail and other UK tabloids were quick to pounce on the "woke" reimagining of a national treasure. They hated the swearing. They hated the drugs. They hated the deviations from the plot. But if you look at the performances in a vacuum, it’s hard to argue with the talent on screen.
The Great Expectations cast BBC delivered a masterclass in psychological drama. Even if you hate the script, you have to admit that watching Olivia Colman navigate a room while high on opium is a sight to behold. It’s experimental. It’s weird. It’s definitely not your grandmother's Dickens.
What Knight understood is that the original novel is deeply weird too. It’s full of Gothic horror and bizarre coincidences. By leaning into the strangeness, the cast was able to create something that felt fresh in a sea of "safe" period dramas.
How to Watch and What to Look For
If you’re planning on diving into this version, you need to go in with an open mind. Don’t expect a beat-for-beat recreation of the book. Instead, look for the subtle ways the actors portray the class struggle.
Pay attention to:
- The way Pip’s posture changes as he moves from the forge to London. Whitehead does a great job showing how "gentility" is actually just a suit of armor that doesn't fit him.
- The set design of Satis House. It’s a character in its own right, and the way Colman interacts with the decay around her tells you more about Havisham’s mental state than any monologue could.
- The relationship between Jaggers and Wemmick (played by Rudi Dharmalingam). It’s a fascinating look at how people survived in a legal system that was designed to crush the poor.
The series is currently available on BBC iPlayer in the UK and on Hulu (or Disney+) in the US and other territories. It’s six episodes long, which is just enough time to let the atmosphere soak in without it becoming overstaying its welcome.
Making Sense of the Ending
Without giving too much away for the three people who haven't read the book or seen any version of this story, the ending of the 2023 series takes some liberties.
It’s more cynical.
Pip doesn't get a clean break. The Great Expectations cast BBC portrays a world where everyone is compromised. There are no pure heroes. Even Joe Gargery, in all his goodness, is a man who has been silenced by his own kindness.
Is it the "best" version of Great Expectations? Probably not. That title usually goes to the 1946 David Lean film. But is it the most provocative? Absolutely. It forces you to look at Dickens through a cracked lens, and the cast is the reason that lens doesn't just shatter into pieces.
Actionable Insights for Period Drama Fans
- Compare and Contrast: If you really want to understand why this cast was chosen, watch an episode of the 2011 BBC version (starring Douglas Booth and Gillian Anderson) immediately followed by the 2023 version. The difference in tone is staggering.
- Read the Subtext: Steven Knight's work is rarely about what people are saying. It’s about what they aren't saying. Watch the eyes of the actors during the dinner scenes. That’s where the real story is.
- Explore the Actors' Other Work: To see the range of this cast, check out Fionn Whitehead in The Duke or Shalom Brune-Franklin in The Tourist. It helps you appreciate the specific choices they made for these iconic roles.
- Check the Source: Keep a copy of the novel nearby. It sounds nerdy, but seeing which lines Knight kept and which he threw away gives you a huge insight into the creative direction of the show.
The 2023 adaptation remains one of the most debated pieces of television in recent years. Whether you view it as a bold reimagining or a travesty, the performances remain a fascinating study in how to breathe life into 160-year-old characters.