Dodger (TV series)
Prequel series following the Artful Dodger before Oliver Twist.
Dodger is a British family comedy drama television series inspired by the Artful Dodger from Charles Dickens's novel Oliver Twist. The series serves as a prequel to the events of Oliver Twist, set in 1830s Victorian London. It premiered on 9 February 2022 on BBC iPlayer and was later repeated on BBC One.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Comedy drama
- Creator
- Rhys Thomas
- Inspired By
- Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
- Writer
- Lucy Montgomery / Rhys Thomas
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Language
- English
- Num Series
- 1 + 4 specials
- Num Episodes
- 14 in total
- Executive Producer
- Mark Freeland · Amy Buscombe · Lucy Montgomery · Rhys Thomas
- Producer
- Francis Gilson and Lauriel Martin
- Cinematography
- Pete Rowe
- Editor
- Christopher Bird
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The series revolves around Jack Dawkins, known as the Artful Dodger, and his exploits as part of Fagin's gang in 1830s Victorian London. The main cast includes Billy Jenkins as Dodger, Christopher Eccleston as Fagin, and other actors portraying characters such as Charley Bates, Bill Sikes, and Nancy. The first series of 10 episodes was followed by three specials: 'Train' in November 2022, 'Christmas' in December 2022, 'Bad Egg' on Easter Saturday 2023, and 'Coronation' in May 2023 to coincide with King Charles III's coronation. A Christmas Special aired in December 2022.
Reader's Guide
Dodger is significant as a prequel to Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist, reimagining the Artful Dodger's early life. The series was the most watched CBBC commissioned programme between September 2021 and September 2022. It received a Royal Television Society Award for Best Children's Programme in 2023 and a Writer's Guild of Great Britain Award for Best Children/Youth Programme. The show was produced by NBCUniversal International Studios, with filming locations including Manchester, North West England, Bristol, and Luton Hoo. Its international sales are handled by NBCUniversal Global Distribution. The series contributes to the ongoing adaptation of Dickensian characters for modern audiences.
Did You Know?
- The first 5 episodes were made available on BBC iPlayer on 6 February 2022.
- Principal photography for the first series took place in Manchester and various locations around North West England.
- The Christmas Special was filmed at Luton Hoo doubling as Saffron Hill and St Alban's Cathedral as Westminster Abbey.
- The series features original music written by Joel Cadbury and Will Harper.
More in CBBC original programming 1-24
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