About this season
Bleak House is BBC television drama first broadcast in 1985. The serial was adapted by Arthur Hopcraft from Charles Dickens' novel Bleak House and it was the second adaptation by the BBC.
Episodes (8)
1. Episode 1
Aired 10 April 1985
Young Esther Summerson, brought up as an orphan, is summoned to London by her guardian's solicitors. She is to meet the Wards of Court in Jarndyce and Jarndyce court case over a will, and become acquainted with her guardian John Jarndyce for the first time.
2. Episode 2
Aired 17 April 1985
Esther is entrusted with the running of Bleak House.
3. Episode 3
Aired 24 April 1985
Lady Dedlock ceases the case, Esther refuses an offer of marriage and Miss Flite collapses after a court hearing.
4. Episode 4
Aired 1 May 1985
Lady Dedlock persuades Jo, a young crossing sweeper, to show her the haunts of the late Captain Hawdon. Richard's intended engagement to Ada perturbs Jarndyce, who considers it hasty, and they argue.
5. Episode 5
Aired 8 May 1985
Smallweed presses George for documents in Captain Hawdon's handwriting, while Jo is questioned about the 'Lady' Tulkinghorn showed around London.
6. Episode 6
Aired 15 May 1985
Esther becomes ill with smallpox, while Smallweed inherits Krook's property.
7. Episode 7
Aired 22 May 1985
Esther, severely scarred, has recovered from smallpox. She meets Lady Dedlock, who confesses that she is her mother. Jo has been found desperately ill and living rough, but dies soon afterwards. The lawyer Tulkinghorn, has been murdered in his rooms.
8. Episode 8
Aired 29 May 1985
Richard, now married to Ada, continues the legal cause of Jarndyce.