British Comedy Guide
Bleak Expectations. Image shows from L to R: Hardthrasher (Geoffrey Whitehead), Aunt Lily (Celia Imrie), Young Pip (Tom Allen), Mr Gently Benevolent (Anthony Head), Sir Philip Bin (Richard Johnson), Harry Biscuit (James Bachman). Copyright: BBC
Bleak Expectations

Bleak Expectations

  • Radio sitcom
  • BBC Radio 4
  • 2007 - 2012
  • 30 episodes (5 series)

Radio comedy following the adventures of Pip Bin as he struggles against the cruel plotting of his evil guardian Mr Gently Benevolent. Stars Tom Allen, Anthony Head, Richard Johnson, James Bachman, Susy Kane and more.

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Press clippings

Bleak Expectations to close in the West End early

The show will now conclude its run on 13 August 2023, instead of the previously scheduled 3 September - so there's still time to catch it.

Alex Wood, What's On Stage, 20th June 2023

Bleak Expectations stage play gets West End run

Dickensian pastiche Bleak Expectations, a Radio 4 hit from 2007, is to take to the West End stage this summer with a run of headline guest stars.

British Comedy Guide, 15th February 2023

Cast announced for Bleak Expectations stage adaptation

Casting has been announced for the world premiere of Bleak Expectations, penned by Mark Evans and directed by Caroline Leslie.

Alex Wood, What's On Stage, 4th May 2022

Bleak Expectations coming to the stage

A stage adaptation of Radio 4 favourite Bleak Expectations is to premiere this spring at The Watermill Theatre in Newbury.

British Comedy Guide, 29th March 2022

When sitcom gets serious

I have been thinking about the power of pathos in sitcom.

A Dose Of David Mitchell, 4th October 2018

My experience of doing Bleak Expectations on Mastermind

One aspect I am particularly fond of is that what with Bleak Expectations being a rather surreal comedy, about 19th century industrialist Sir Philip Bin, the inventor of the bin, foiling the schemes of his ironically named twice undead evil ex-guardian Mr. Gently Benevolent, there was that pleasing satisfaction of hearing host John Humphrys reading out some strange questions. It is safe to say that no-one else will be tackling questions on dogs called Countdown that can only understand anagrams, or civil wars in Russia about the spelling of the word Tsar/Czar.

Ian Wolf, On The Box, 13th July 2016

Mark Evans: Having a Dickens of a time

Mark Evans, the author of Bleak Expectations, on why Charles Dickens defines our view of the 19th century... along with The Muppets.

Mark Evans, The Big Issue, 19th December 2012

If ever a show deserved a handsome Christmas hardback it is Bleak Expectations. The comedy itself (Radio 4, Tuesdays) is a brilliant Dickens pastiche by Mark Evans, a mash-up of plots and characters that is scholarly, irreverent, affectionate and topical all at once. On radio it is perfectly cast and directed (Mark Evans again). On the page it has utterly wonderful footnotes, too.

Gillian Reynolds, The Telegraph, 18th December 2012

Bleak Expectations BBC radio comedy moving to TV

The BBC's popular Radio 4 Dickens spoof to make move to BBC2 as Old Shop of Stuff.

Ben Dowell, The Guardian, 21st February 2011

Radio 4's Bleak Expectations to transfer to TV

Bleak Expectations, the hit Radio 4 sitcom set in dickensian times, is set for a transfer to BBC Two.

British Comedy Guide, 21st February 2011

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