Stellar cast unite to read onscreen celebrations of literary greats
Series starts with In Love With… Dickens Tuesday 21 February 8pm Sky Arts 2 HD

A cast of some of the country’s finest actors assembles for a series of programmes celebrating the literary work of author Charles Dickens, and playwrights Oscar Wilde and Noel Coward.

Actors including Simon Callow, Miriam Margolyes, Douglas Booth, Steve Evets, Thomas Brodie-Sangster and scholar Alex Werner bring their favourite characters from Charles Dickens' novels to life in a collection of monologues in the first of three specially created programmes for Sky Arts. The stars of stage and screen lined-up to read extracts from the body of Noel Coward’s work include Robert Sheehan, Karen Gilan, Patricia Hodge, Sheila Hancock, Celia Imrie, Craig Roberts and scholar Philip Hoare while tributes to Oscar Wilde will include readings by Stephen Fry, Paterson Joseph, Caroline Quentin, Eddie Marsan, Russell Tovey and scholar Merlin Holland.    

In Love With… Dickens (Tuesday 21 February 8pm) sees Miriam Margolyes read as Mrs Gamp from The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit. Steve Evets also joins her in paying homage to the great Victorian novelist's last picaresque work, portraying the story's aging and devoted clerk Mr Chuffey.

Actor Simon Callow chooses to read the passage depicting Scrooge’s first visit from Marley's ghost in the festive tale A Christmas Carol, and Thomas Brodie-Sangster performs Pip’s first encounter with Miss Havisham from Great Expectations. Meanwhile, rising star Douglas Booth performs a monologue in character as Ham in David Copperfield and Dickens & London curator and scholar Alex Werner provides context for all the pieces performed.

In Love With… Coward (Monday 12^th March 7pm) sees Patricia Hodge read passages from one of the playwright's comedies Hands Across The Sea, while Doctor Who actress Karen Gillan performs the famous closing voiceover from Brief Encounter. Craig Roberts reads a private letter written by the flamboyant star to his mother, actress Celia Imrie reads a verse of Social Grace and Robert Sheehan transforms into the troubled Nicky Lancaster in The Vortex.  Sheila Hancock recites Coward's song If Love Were All and biographer Philip Hoare reveals insights into cowards extraordinary body of work.

In Love With… Wilde (Monday 19^th March 7pm) sees Stephen Fry reading extracts from The Happy Prince. Film and TV star Paterson Joseph offers an absorbing performance from An Ideal Husband, and Caroline Quentin transforms into the Duchess of Berwick from Lady Windermere’s Fan. Eddie Marsan will also read from the tragedy Vera; or the Nihilists, while Russell Tovey recites the words of Jack in The Importance Of Being Earnest. Plus, Wilde's grandson, Merlin Holland adds context and also read an extract from his grandfather's essay De Profundis.

“I couldn’t imagine a better cast to celebrate the colourful characters of Dickens, Coward and Wilde,”comments James Hunt, Channel Director of Sky Arts. “The performances are remarkable. This is a fitting tribute to the body of work they celebrate and to the craft of delivering monologue."

The In Love with… series is a B Good Picture Company Production and is directed by Joe Stephenson.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT

Katherine Solomon PR Manager, Sky Press Office
T: 0207 032 0599

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Dominic Collett Sky Arts Publicist, Sky Press Office
T: 0207 032 4892

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