Steven Knight to Adapt Dickens’ Classics for BBC One

Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders, Taboo) will be adapting Charles Dickens’ classic novels for BBC One, starting with A Christmas Carol.

A three-part adaptation of A Christmas Carol will be produced by Scott Free London in association with Hardy Son and Baker for BBC One. A holiday 2019 launch is on the planner. It will be executive produced by Knight, Ridley Scott, Tom Hardy, Kate Crowe and Dean Baker, alongside Piers Wenger for the BBC.

A Christmas Carol marks the first in a series of adaptations to come over the next few years.

Knight said: “Any question about narrative storytelling is answered by Dickens. To have the chance to revisit the text and interpret in a new way is the greatest privilege. We need luck and wisdom to do this justice.”

Wenger, controller of BBC Drama, said: “Steven’s unique ability to reimagine the past and to turn it into must-see drama make him the perfect writer to reimagine Dickens’ most famous works for a new generation. And in A Christmas Carol, that most familiar of Dickens’ stories, he has found the perfect place to start.”

Charlotte Moore, the director of BBC Content, commented: “It’s incredibly exciting to have a genius like Steven Knight embark on a series of Dickens adaptations. What can I say? Be prepared to be blown away by his wholly original and visionary take on some of Britain’s best-loved classics.”

Scott said: “It’s terrific to be continuing the creative partnership of Scott Free London with Tom and Steve that started with Taboo and continues with this exciting and ambitious anthology of British classics.”

Crowe, the head of TV at Scott Free London, remarked: “A Christmas Carol explores miserliness, isolation and selfishness against generosity, charity and open-heartedness; a clash of ideologies that is as significant today as it ever has been.”

Hardy of Hardy Son and Baker added: “It’s extremely exciting to have the opportunity to team up with Ridley Scott, Steven Knight and our partners at the BBC with this rare and wonderful opportunity to revisit and interpret Dickens’ classic works. A Christmas Carol is a fabulous magical piece of theatre and an embarrassment of riches for our creative team—from character all the way through to design. Here’s to having a lot of intricate and wonderful fun. We feel very lucky.”