Julian Clary, Dermot O’Leary, Sally Philips and Nina Wadia join West End run

Julian Clary, Dermot O’Leary, Sally Philips and Nina Wadia are to appear in the West End adaptation of Radio 4’s Dickensian comedy Bleak Expectations.

Their names have been added to the roster of guest stars playing the lead part of Sir Philip Bin for one week as producers have today released the full schedule of appearances.

Clary said: ‘Such a thrill to be giving my Sir Pip Bin in Bleak Expectations. It is a challenging role and I look forward to being stretched as never before."

The ‘story that Charles Dickens might have written after drinking too much gin’ will open in previews at the Criterion Theatre from May 3 and run until September 3.

Other names previously announced include Tom Allen – who played the role on radio – Alexander Armstrong, Jo Brand, Jack Dee, Stephen Fry, Nish Kumar, Lee Mack and Sue Perkins. 

The performance schedule is as follows:

3- 7 May: Nina Wadia
9-14 May: Dermot O’Leary
16-21 May: Sally Philips
30 May - 4 June: Sue Perkins
6-11 June: Julian Clary
13-18 June: Adjoa Andoh
27 June - 2 July: Lee Mack
4-9 July: Stephen Mangan
11-16 July: Jo Brand
18-23 July: Tom Allen
25-30 July: Jack Dee 
1-6 August: Alexander Armstrong
8-13 August: Stephen Fry
15-20 August: Ben Miller
29 August - 3 September: Nish Kumar

The original radio show ran for 30 episodes between August 2007 and 2012, following young Pip’s exploits with sisters Pippa and Poppy plus best friend Harry Biscuit as they attempted to escape the calculating clutches of the dastardly Mr Gently Benevolent, and defeat the hideous Hardthrasher siblings.

The London show, written by original creator Mark Evans, follows a run at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury, Berkshire, last summer.

Tickets  are on sale here, starting at £15

Published: 28 Feb 2023