Sketches by Boz

Slices of 19th-century London life from the pen of Charles Dickens

Here are ten gloriously comic stories from Sketches by Boz, Charles Dickens' earliest collection of short pieces in which he honed his literary genius. Each tale is dramatised by Dr Stephen Wyatt with a full cast.

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Cast and credits
Written by Charles Dickens
Dramatised by Dr Stephen Wyatt
Directed by Sally Avens
Starring Nicholas Farrell as Boz

The Tuggses at Ramsgate
The nouveau riche Tugg family discover that money cannot buy you love.

Cast: Christopher Hancock, Frances Jeater, Colleen Prendergast, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Sean Baker, Tracy-Ann Oberman

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 1 September 1998

The Bloomsbury Christening
The arrival of a bouncing baby boy is wonderful news - but not for miserable misanthrope Nicodemus Dumps.

Cast: Alison Reid, Geoffrey Whitehead, Robert Harper, Charlie Simpson, Elaine Pyke

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 8 September 1998

The Great Winglebury Duel
Alexander Trott finds it is possible to become betrothed in even the most trying circumstances.

Cast: Peter Gunn, Julia Deakin, David Timson, Kim Wall and David Antrobus

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 15 September 1998

The Private Theatricals of Mrs Joseph Porter
A household becomes obsessed with amateur dramatics - with farcical results.

Cast: Geoffrey Whitehead, Frances Jeater, David Antrobus, Jane Holm, Shirley Dixon, Charles Simpson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 22 September 1998

Mr Watkins Tottle
All Mr Tottle wants is to enter the blessed state of matrimony - but the course of true love never did run smooth.

Cast: David Collings, John Hartley, Jenny Howe, Patience Tomlinson, Christopher Scott

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 29 September 1998

Love and Oysters
Meeting an oyster seller sparks disruption for orderly John Dounce.

Cast: David Calder, Samantha Spiro, Siriol Jenkins, Elizabeth Conboy, David Allister, loan Meredith

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 5 July 1999

The Steam Excursion
A boat trip on the Thames proves the undoing of 'paragon of perfection' Percy Noakes.

Cast: Marston Bloom, Shirley Dixon, Joanna Monro, Jeremy Swift, Becky Hindley, Ben Crowe, Stephen Critchlow

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 12 July 1999

Sentiment
The Crumpton sisters are delighted when an MP's daughter arrives at their finishing school - until a romantic attachment comes to light.

Cast: Patience Tomlinson, Jane Booker, Gerard Murphy, Tilly Gaunt, Harry Myers, Elizabeth Conboy, Michael Mueller

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 19 July 1999

The Boarding House
The respectability of Mrs Tibbs' residential establishment is threatened by a mysterious new lodger.


Cast: Imelda Staunton, Annette Badland, Christopher Hancock, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Stephen Critchlow, Peter Gunn, Jason O'Mara

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 July 1999

Horatio Sparkins
The snobbish Maldertons are thrilled when their unmarried daughter receives the attentions of the gentlemanly Mr Sparkins. But who exactly is he?

Cast: David Haig, Tessa Worsley, Sarah-Jane Holm, Adrian Schiller, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Patrick Barlow


First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 2 August 1999