West End adaptation of Radio 4 comedy

Craig Ferguson and Robert Lindsay have joined the West End version of  the  Dickensian Radio 4 comedy Bleak Expectations.

They join a revolving line-up of guest stars which includes Tom Allen – who took the lead in the original – Jo Brand, Nish Kumar, Julian Clary and Jack Dee.

Ferguson, who appears from June 20 to 25, said: ‘I’m delighted to be taking a brief sojourn from the self-aggrandising hyperbolic world of American showbiz to be part of what many people are saying will be the greatest theatrical production of all time.’

And Lindsay, whose stint is from May 23 to 28, said: ‘What a journey from my first school play, What The Dickens, playing the Dartful Rodger through to Fagin at the Palladium to the peak of a bleak appearance at the Criterion… I’ve fulfilled my expectations.’

The production will open in preview at the Criterion Theatre from May 3 and  run until  September 3.

Bleak Expectations follows young Pip’s extraordinary exploits with sisters Pippa and Poppy plus best friend Harry Biscuit as they attempt to escape the calculating clutches of the dastardly Mr Gently Benevolent, defeat the hideous Hardthrasher siblings, and deflect disaster at every turn!

The performance schedule is as follows:

3- 7 May: Nina Wadia

9-14 May: Dermot O’Leary

16-21 May: Sally Phillips

23-28 May: Robert Lindsay

30 May - 4 June: Sue Perkins

6-11 June: Julian Clary

13-18 June: Adjoa Andoh

20-25 June: Craig Ferguson

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

Producers have today also announced that the ensemble cast will be Ashh Blackwood, Shane David-Joseph JJ Henry, John ​Hopkins, Dom Hodson, Serena Manteghi, Marc Pickering and Rachel Summers

Tickets  are on sale here, starting at £15

Published: 17 Apr 2023