This ATV series carried on the story of Oliver and the Artful Dodger from the point where the Charles Dickens novel ended.
Oliver (Daniel Murray) has successfully escaped Fagin but the boy’s past is catching up with him. Attempts are being made to trace Oliver’s origins, but the double-crossing Noah Claypole (Leonard Preston) has stolen the all-important documents that prove his identity.
The evil Monks (Geoffrey Larder), Oliver’s half-brother, is also on the prowl and plants Mr Bumble (Harold Innocent), the objectionable Beadle who had previously made life difficult for the boy, at the school he attends.
Monks is determined to get rid of Oliver and get at his money. Luckily, Jack Dawkins – better known as the Artful Dodger (John Fowler) – is on hand to help Oliver.
Writer David Butler developed the scenes as a novel in the first instance and then broke it down into 13 parts. Assistance was on hand from his brother, Denis, who scripted two episodes while David was overseas (although he was not credited for his efforts at the time).
The series aired on Sunday afternoons between 2 March and 1 June 1980.
Oliver Twist
Daniel Murray Rose Maylie
Mary Chilton Rev. Harry Maylie
Nicholas Geake Noah Claypole
Leonard Preston Artful Dodger (Jack Dawkins)
John Fowler Mr Brownlow
Bryan Coleman Mr Grimwig
Derek Smith Mrs Carraway
June Watson Monks
Geoffrey Larder Mr Meikle
Tom Chatto Dr Hyssop
John Franklyn-Robbins Mr Bumble
Harold Innocent Ned Fingers
Gary Shail Fagin
David Swift Charlotte
Pauline Quirke
Episodes
Old Acquaintance | The Plot Thickens | Declarations of War | An Awful Example | Runaway | Penny Hang | Life on the Ocean Wave | The Climbing Boy | Up Up and Away | Bye, ‘Bye Bumble | Three Card and Thimblerig | Old Flat ‘At | Ends and Beginnings
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