Little Dorrit, a major 91Èȱ¬ One Dickens adaptation
Amanda Redman plays Mrs Merdle
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Amanda Redman did not take much persuading to appear in Little Dorrit; she says she was won over the moment she read Andrew Davies' 14-part screenplay.
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"The calibre of the script instantly appealed," beams the actress, who stars as the long-suffering DS Sandra Pullman in one of 91Èȱ¬ One's biggest drama hits of recent years, New Tricks.
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"As soon as I was offered it, I said yes. It was a no-brainer. Andrew Davies is an absolute master. He nails every single character. His lines are so easy to say - his rhythms are extraordinary. You never have to change a single word. You don't have to do anything except open your mouth and let his words come out. Andrew's a joy for any actor."
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The actress, who has also headlined in At 91Èȱ¬ With The Braithwaites, Sexy Beast, Honest, Mike Bassett: England Manager, The Blonde Bombshell, Close Relations, and Hope And Glory, plays the part of Mrs Merdle in Little Dorrit.
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She resides on the topmost branch of the social ladder and is the glittering wife of "the greatest man in London."
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Amanda goes on to give a precise description of her character: "she's great fun to play. She's so peculiar and larger than life. She's the queen of society and is obsessed with status. She is riding very high. What she says, goes.
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"If someone is 'in' in her eyes, they're in, and if they're 'out' in her eyes, they're out. She's always setting trends and dresses in the latest fashions from the Continent."
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There is a comic element to all this. With a laugh, Amanda continues: "In the book, Charles Dickens says that she has a magnificent bosom which she permanently displays to her best advantage. Her husband married her so he could showcase all these amazing jewels on his wife!"
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Amanda believes it will be compelling viewing for 91Èȱ¬ One's early-evening audiences.
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"Dickens is just such a rollicking good story-teller," asserts the actress.
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"He wrote Little Dorrit in weekly instalments for periodicals, so it has soundbites and cliffhangers built in. We devour period dramas like this because we all grew up with them. We're also the best in world at doing them."
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Amanda is convinced that Little Dorrit will help introduce Dickens to a fresh generation of viewers.
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"Bleak House brought a whole new EastEnders audience to Dickens, and I'm sure Little Dorrit will do the same.
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Youngsters might think 'oh that'll be boring', but the moment they start watching, they'll be captivated. Once you try his work, you're hooked. It's utterly compulsive."
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