Great Expectations is a three-part BBC television drama adaptation by Sarah Phelps of the Charles Dickens’s 1861 novel of the same name, starring Ray Winstone as Magwitch, Gillian Anderson as Miss Havisham, Douglas Booth as Pip, Vanessa Kirby as Estella and David Suchet as Jaggers. The adaptation was first broadcast on British television over the Christmas period in 2011.
Anderson's casting as Miss Havisham drew attention to the production due to her being a mere 43 compared to other actresses who have played her. However, critical reception was generally positive. It is also worth noting that Maxine Audley was also only 43 when she played Miss Havisham in the 1967 BBC adaptation.
In 2012, the PBS broadcast earned the series a total of four Creative Arts Emmy Awards out of five nominations for Outstanding Art Direction, Cinematography, Costumes, and Main Title Design. The remaining nomination was for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music.
Plot
Part one
Young Pip (Oscar Kennedy) is out on the marshes when he meets escaped convict Abel Magwitch (Ray Winstone), who tells him to steal a file so he can remove his shackles. Pip returns, bringing a mutton pie with him along with the file, much to Magwitch’s amazement. Later, Magwitch is re-arrested while fighting with a mysterious fellow escapee (Paul Rhys).
Pip lives with his sister (Claire Rushbrook) and the blacksmith Joe Gargery (Shaun Dooley), who learn from her uncle (Mark Addy) that the reclusive Miss Havisham (Gillian Anderson) needs a young boy. Sure of a reward, Pip’s sister puts him forward, and he becomes a playmate for Havisham's adopted daughter Estella (Izzy Meikle-Small). During his time at the house, Pip becomes convinced that she will become his benefactor and is disappointed when she signs a contract paying for Pip's blacksmith apprenticeship to Joe, even more so when Havisham tells him never to return to see her. While he and Joe are at the house, Pip’s sister is attacked by the evil Orlick (Jack Roth), leaving her bedridden as Pip begins his seven-year apprenticeship.
Seven years later, Pip (now Douglas Booth), having once again seen Estella (now Vanessa Kirby), is visited by the lawyer Jaggers (David Suchet), who informs him that he has an anonymous benefactor who will pay for him to go to London and begin life as a gentleman, on the condition that he must be known only as Pip and must not enquire about the source of the money. Assuming the benefactor to be Havisham, he visits her and promises not to let her down.
Part two
In London, grown up Pip spends time in the company of Herbert Pocket (Harry Lloyd), racking up debts at a private members club and trying to forget his former life. Pip tells Herbert of his love for Estella but Pocket is wary. He warns Pip that no one knows where Estella came from, that Havisham adopted her from nowhere and from 'friends' no one had ever heard of. Pip, however, chaperones Estella in London, accompanying her to a ball and his feelings grow stronger.
At Jaggers' offices, Pip is berated for his debts, but Pip insists he must impress Havisham to show he is a gentleman. Pip overhears an arrogant client, Bentley Drummle (Tom Burke), also being told off by Jaggers for his ways. Pip attempts to befriend him, but at a dance Drummle shows attention to Estella and taunts Pip, saying he knows he is not a true gentleman.
Jaggers' clerk Wemmick also shows disdain for Pip's background but assists Pip in secretly funding Pocket's new business, which allows Pocket to marry the girl he was thrown out of his family for. Pip attends his sister’s funeral. Alone in his room, Pip awakens to find the convict Magwitch tipping money out of a sack, before revealing himself to be Pip's mysterious benefactor.
Part three
Pocket stumbles in and after being threatened with a knife to his throat by Magwitch, learns of all. Pip is wary of Magwitch, believing the money must have come from murder. He visits Havisham, meeting Drummle there who gloats telling him of his engagement to Estella. Estella reveals that Pip was brought to the house to be a boy to practise breaking hearts on. After Estella leaves, Pip demands that Havisham explain why she led him on to believe she was his benefactor and that he was meant for Estella. Havisham tells him that Estella is going to break Drummle's heart, but Pip says that Drummle will not care what Estella does.