The arrival of a circus challenges the provincial thinking of two local businessmen. Stars Kenneth Cranham and Philip Jackson.

Hard facts are all that provincial businessmen, Mr Gradgrind and Mr Bounderby feel are necessary in life. But the arrival of Sleary's circus in Coketown shows another way...

Charles Dickens's 1854 classic about struggles in the industrial north, dramatised in four parts by Doug Lucie.

Thomas Gradgrind ...... Kenneth Cranham

Josiah Bounderby ...... Philip Jackson

Mrs Sparsit ...... Eleanor Bron

Mrs Gradgrind ...... Thelma Barlow

Sleary ...... Derek Waring

Helen Longworth ...... Louisa

Rachael ...... Becky Hindley

Stephen ...... Alan Williams

Mrs Pegler ...... Marcia Warren

Francis Jeater ...... Mrs Blackpool

Mr M'choakumchild ...... Stephen Critchlow

Childers ...... Chris Moran

Josephine ...... Jaimi Barbakoff

A Boy ...... Gregg Prentice

Servant ...... Ioan Meredith

Waiter ...... Declan Wilson

Sissy ...... Stepanie Rawson

Bitzer ...... Alexander Slater

Tom ...... Nick Roud

Music by Nina Perry.

Director: Janet Whitaker

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2003.