Happy New Year, Dickensian fans. Tip of the topper and a toast raised to you. Dickens wrote about new year, y’know, in a short story called ‘The Chimes’. ‘A new heart, for a new year, always!’ is the only quote anyone remembers from it, and that’s only because it sounds like a good idea that’ll … >

Always nice to splurge a bit at Christmas isn’t it? Clearly the BBC, with its unashamed pro-sprout agenda, agrees. No need to ask ‘Please sir, may have I some more?’ as we’re treated to another two helpings of Dickensian. Given its serial nature, I’m going to lump both eps together in this review but it’s … >

Episode 2 of Dickensian is also the second Boxing Day instalment of EastEnders writer Tony Jordan’s new 20-part period drama. But while you’re probably polishing off the first of many, many meals involving increasingly obscure scraps of turkey meat, the good people inside your TV are celebrating Christmas Day. ‘God bless us, every one’ is … >

Marley was dead, to begin with. Oh wait, no he’s not. What the Dickens?! He’s standing right there, on the steps of his and Ebenezer Scrooge’s money-lending business. Contrary to what you may have read in A Christmas Carol, Jacob Marley is very much alive here, and being played by Peter Firth (Spooks) wearing a … >