This early BBC adaptation of the legendary Charles Dickens novel starred 13-year-old Bruce Prochnik as Oliver, Max Adrian as Fagin, Melvyn Hayes as The Artful Dodger, Peter Vaughan as Bill Sikes and Carmel McSharry as Nancy.
Shown in a Sunday teatime slot previously occupied by children’s serials, the murder of Nancy by Bill Sikes in the final episode shocked viewers and was the subject of huge protest from TV monitoring organisations. The Postmaster-General, Mr Bevins, called it “brutal and quite inexcusable” when speaking in the House of Commons.
Oliver Twist
Bruce Prochnik Fagin
Max Adrian Artful Dodger
Melvyn Hayes Bill Sikes
Peter Vaughan Nancy
Carmel McSharry Monks
John Carson Mr Brownlow
George Curzon Mr Bumble
Willoughby Goddard Mrs Bumble
Peggy Thorpe-Bates Charley Bates
Alan Rothwell Mr Grimwig
William Mervyn Mrs Maylie
Noel Hood Harry Maylie
John Breslin Noah Claypole
Barry Wilsher Mrs Bedwin
Madeleine Christie Rose Maylie
Gay Cameron Dr Losberne
Lloyd Pearson Tom Chitling
Peter Furnell Mr Sowerberry
Donald Eccles Mrs Sowerberry
Barbara Hicks Toby Crackit
Harry Landis Old Sally
Aimée Delamain Brittles
Aubrey Morris
Oliver Twist
Mr Bumble
Mrs Bedwin
