Plots(1)
Roger Rees plays the young, earnest Nicholas, whose father's death prompts him; his sister, Kate (Emily Richard); and their mother (Jane Downs) to make their way to London to seek out the financial assistance of Nicholas's cold, calculating uncle, Ralph Nickleby (John Woodvine). Ralph grudgingly provides his nephew with employment at a Yorkshire school for abandoned boys under the cartoonishly vile Wackford Squeers (Alun Armstrong), but Nicholas can't stomach the physical abuse Squeers heaps on his students. After lashing out at the sadistic schoolmaster during a particularly savage beating of a child, Nicholas escapes the school, taking with him the most wretched of the young creatures, a limping, crooked-backed boy named Smike (David Threlfall). The story unfolds from there, with the now-itinerant Nicholas forced to make his way in the world while adhering to his principles and protecting Kate and their mother from his scheming uncle, who is eventually forced to come to terms with his emotions in the story's shocking conclusion. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
![Ian McNeice](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/270/270516_a58f52.jpg)
Ian McNeice
UK
Best series:
Rome (2005) (series)
Jonathan Creek (1997) (series)
Doctor Who (2005) (series)
![Roger Rees](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/416/416807_0bddc6.jpg)
Roger Rees
UK
Best series:
Oz (1997) (series)
My So-Called Life (1994) (series)
Forever (2014) (series)
![John McEnery](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/886/164886226_275b92.jpg)
John McEnery
UK
Best series:
The Scarlet Pimpernel (1999) (series)
Dalziel and Pascoe (1996) (series)
A.D. (1985) (series)
![Alun Armstrong](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/774/162774418_4111eb.jpg)
Alun Armstrong
UK
Best series:
Downton Abbey (2010) (series)
Garrow's Law (2009) (series)
The Hollow Crown (2012) (series)
![Lucy Gutteridge](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/277/277635_387da6.jpg)
Lucy Gutteridge
UK
Best series:
Till We Meet Again (1989) (series)
Tales of the Unexpected (1979) (series)
Hammer House of Horror (1980) (series)
![Rose Hill](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/278/278205_711152.jpg)
Rose Hill
UK
Best series:
'Allo 'Allo! (1982) (series)
Dad's Army (1968) (series)
The Bill (1984) (series)
![David Threlfall](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/941/161941296_7765ce.jpg)
David Threlfall
UK
Best series:
Ripper Street (2012) (series)
Shameless (2004) (series)
Funny Woman (2023) (series)
![Cathryn Harrison](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/163/725/163725075_184eae.jpg)
Cathryn Harrison
UK
Best series:
Robin of Sherwood (1984) (series)
Agatha Christie: Poirot (1989) (series)
Bergerac (1981) (series)
![Bob Peck](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/532/161532024_e463de.jpg)
Bob Peck
UK
Best series:
The Storyteller (1987) (series)
Edge of Darkness (1985) (series)
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992) (series)
![Patrick Godfrey](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/307/158307288_839d85.jpg)
Patrick Godfrey
UK
Best series:
Doctor Who (1963) (series)
Agatha Christie: Poirot (1989) (series)
Edge of Darkness (1985) (series)
![Sally Nesbitt](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/484/158484541_6ca7c7.jpg)
Sally Nesbitt
Best series:
The Avengers (1961) (series)
EastEnders (1985) (series)
![Griffith Jones](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/406/158406986_b9aed3.jpg)
Griffith Jones
UK
Best series:
The Persuaders! (1971) (series)
The Avengers (1961) (series)
![Timothy Kightley](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/633/158633977_6ebb99.jpg)
Timothy Kightley
Best series:
The Storyteller (1987) (series)
Agatha Christie: Poirot (1989) (series)
Foyle's War (2002) (series)
Mark Tandy
Ireland
Best series:
The Crown (2016) (series)
The Jewel in the Crown (1984) (series)
Garrow's Law (2009) (series)
Jeffery Dench
UK
Best series:
The Brittas Empire (1991) (series)
Teddy Kempner
Best series:
Hustle (2004) (series)
The Famous Five (1995) (series)
The Murder Room (2004) (series)
![John Woodvine](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/439/160439130_671cee.jpg)
John Woodvine
UK
Best series:
All Creatures Great and Small (1978) (series)
The Crown (2016) (series)
Doctor Who (1963) (series)
![Lila Kaye](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/439/160439151_1efa2c.gif)
Lila Kaye
UK
Best series:
The Saint (1962) (series)
Covington Cross (1992) (series)
Cheers (1982) (series)
![Christopher Benjamin](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/396/161396231_651bd5.jpg)
Christopher Benjamin
UK
Best series:
Yes, Prime Minister (1986) (series)
Pride and Prejudice (1995) (series)
The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1986) (series)
![Jane Downs](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/441/161441120_9042c8.jpg)
Jane Downs
UK
Best series:
Jeeves and Wooster (1990) (series)
Bergerac (1981) (series)
Midsomer Murders (1997) (series)