Best Dominic Gerrard Podcasts (2024)

1
DROOD ...📚 And Our Endless Attempts To End It: with Pete Orford 40:34

1d ago40:34

40:34

Dominic is joined again by the inimitable Dr. Pete Orford for Part II of his examination of The Mystery of Edwin Drood ... Pete’s book Edwin Drood: Charles Dickens’ Unfinished Novel And Our Endless Attempts To End It … (Pen & Sword books) is our guide throughout. It is a hugely entertaining read where scholarly citations and tomfoolery combine with…

1
Mrs Dickens: with Emily Howes 36:18

24d ago36:18

36:18

Dominic is joined by the inimitable Emily Howes, author of The Painters Daughters, who is currently writing her second book, Mrs Dickens, all about the life of Catherine Hogarth and her marriage to Charles Dickens … Emily is an alumna of Cambridge University, where she was a member of the famous Footlights. After gaining a First in English, she stu…

1
London Tide: with Ben Power 29:31

1M ago29:31

29:31

Dominic meets Ben Power backstage at London’s National Theatre who takes a break from rehearsals to talk about London Tide - an exciting new staging of Our Mutual Friend - which he has adapted with songs composed by the award-winning PJ Harvey Ben is a Tony Award winning, and a BAFTA & Olivier Award nominated writer for stage and screen, and an Ass…

1
NEW EPISODES FOR 2024 !!! 🔥 1:14

1M ago1:14

1:14

A new series of Charles Dickens: A Brain on Fire! 🔥 will launch on Friday 5th April ... The first episode takes place deep inside London’s Royal National Theatre, mid-rehearsal, for London Tide - an exciting new adaptation of Our Mutual Friend, co-written by Ben Power and PJ Harvey. Previous series guests include: Stephen Fry, Miriam Margolyes, Arm…

1
"The Haunted Man" (Excerpt): Read by Tom Andrews 9:28

4M ago9:28

9:28

Our final festive extract comes from Dickens’ last Christmas Book The Haunted Man and The Ghost’s Bargain - read today by the fantastic actor Tom Andrews Tom’s screen credits include: This England (for Revolution films & Sky Atlantic), Netflix’s The Strays, Feelgood & Afterlife; HBO’S I Hate Susie and the BBC’s Show Trial … His stage work includes …

1
“The Battle of Life” (Excerpt): Read by Rebecca Tanwen 11:45

4M ago11:45

11:45

Happy 6th Day of Christmas! Today’s guest is the wonderful Rebecca Tanwen reading for us the opening pages of Dickens’ 4th Christmas book The Battle of Life … The story opens with a wide shot of an ancient battle ground, where the traces of the fight have lingered through the centuries, not only in the earth but in the minds of the generations that…

1
"The Cricket on the Hearth" (Excerpt): Read by Tom Bennett 13:14

4M ago13:14

13:14

Happy 5th Day of Christmas! The fantastic actor Tom Bennett reads an excerpt from Dickens’ third Christmas book The Cricket on the Hearth … Caleb Plummer and his daughter Bertha are poor toymakers in the service of the cruel, miserly Tackleton. As the scene unfolds we learn that Caleb’s daughter Bertha is blind, and that her father is constantly tr…

1
"The Chimes" (Excerpt): Read by Carlyss Peer 11:38

5M ago11:38

11:38

The wonderful actress Carlyss Peer returns to the series to read an excerpt from Dickens' second Christmas Book The Chimes You'll be transported to Trotty's humble abode, feeling the chill of the London streets and the welcoming embrace of his heart as he opens his home to strangers, reminding us of the transformative power of kindness and communit…

1
Christmas Carols: with Harry Christophers & The Sixteen 52:28

5M ago52:28

52:28

Dominic is joined by the inimitable Harry Christophers CBE , founder and conductor of The Sixteen, one of the worlds most revered choral ensembles. With thanks to CORO for these stunning Christmas excerpts: Carol of the Bells Apple / Spotify Pilgrim Jesus Apple / Spotify Of a Rose Apple / Spotify This Have I Done ... Apple / Spotify Lo, How a Rose …

1
"The Holly Tree" (Excerpt): Read by Chris Nayak 13:47

5M ago13:47

13:47

The wonderful actor Chris Nayak reads the from the First Branch of The Holly-Tree Inn - one of Dickens' rarer Christmas stories … Packed with self-deprecating humour, a fantastic snowy atmosphere, this a very pleasing festive narrative. Chris’ stage credits include King Duncan in Macbeth at the Globe this year, and previously the RSC and West End. …

1
A Dickensian Christmas Dinner: with Pen Vogler 40:43

5M ago40:43

40:43

Dominic is joined by the wonderful award winning food historian Pen Vogler who returns to the podcast to talk about Dickensian Christmas Dinners ... Focusing on Dickens' five Christmas books - A Christmas Carol, The Chimes, The Cricket on the Hearth, The Battle of Life and The Haunted Man - Pen explores what the characters eat and why. From the Cra…

1
"A Christmas Carol" Stave One (Excerpt) : Read by Rosie Holt 11:20

5M ago11:20

11:20

Award-winning actress, comedian, and satirist Rosie Holt returns to the series to read the opening of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol on the 180th anniversary of its publication today in 1843 ... Rosie makes regular appearances on BBC Radio 4 and as a satirist her work is so powerful that half the country seem to think she’s an actual Conservati…

1
The Lost Portrait: with Emma Rutherford 39:56

5M ago39:56

39:56

Dominic’s guest today is the inimitable Emma Rutherford who recalls her time working on the rediscovery of a lost portrait of Dickens, painted by Margaret Gillies in 1843, and lost for over a century until its serendipitous reappearance at a South African auction. A pivotal snapshot of Dickens' life, the portrait's story hints at the profound bond …

1
"Christmas at Dingley Dell": Read by Gina Beck 11:26

5M ago11:26

11:26

Light up your holiday season with the enchanting narration of our guest, the brilliant Gina Beck as she transports us to the charm and warmth of a festive journey from Charles Dickens' Pickwick Papers in a way that is sure to stir the Christmas spirit in you. Gina has been a star of London’s West End for nearly two decades playing the leads in Matl…

1
Charles Ignatius Sancho: with Paterson Joseph 50:20

5M ago50:20

50:20

The award-winning actor and writer Patterson Joseph takes the listener on a fascinating journey into the captivating life of Charles Ignatius Sancho, an African man who found favour among the highest reaches of 18th-century British society, and who had a front-row seat to the infamous Gordon Riots of 1780 ... Sharing the inspiration behind his thri…

1
Palimpsest: with Céleste Callen 25:16

5M ago25:16

25:16

Celeste Callen returns to share her insights on how Henri Bergson's theories of the 'superficial self' and the 'mechanical man' permeate through Dickens' novels such as The Signal-Man, Bleak House, Hard Times, The Chimes, and Master Humphrey's Clock Celeste Callen holds a BA (Hons) in English Language and Literature from King's College London and a…

1
The Haunted Actor: with James Swanton 47:00

5M ago47:00

47:00

Dominic is joined by the inimitable James Swanton who is performing A Christmas Carol, The Chimes and Haunted Man in person this year at the Dickens Museum. And for those of you listening outside the UK you can watch a live stream of his Haunted Man - filmed inside number 48 Doughty Street - on the 11th December. James read English at Selwyn Colleg…

1
Stuffed (A History of Good Food and Hard Times in Britain): with Pen Vogler 31:24

5M ago31:24

31:24

Dominic is joined by the award-winning author and food historian Pen Vogler who offers insightful reflections on how Charles Dickens used food as complex metaphors in his novels, that reflect the psychological and societal shifts during the Victorian era. The richly detailed food descriptions in works like A Christmas Carol and Little Dorrit reflec…

1
The Gunpowder Plot (from 'A Child's History of England') 📚 : Read by Dominic Gerrard 19:31

6M ago19:31

19:31

Host Dominic Gerrard reads Dickens' account of The Gunpowder Plot from his 1851 A Child's History of England ... Dickens transports back us to 1605, the era of King James I, Guy Fawkes and a conspiracy that shook the nation. This compelling narrative is a tribute to November 5th, a date that continues to resonate through the annals of history. Supp…

1
Charles and Catherine: with Helena Kelly 25:50

7M ago25:50

25:50

It is Publication Eve for today’s guest the inimitable Dr. Helena Kelly. Her latest book The Life & Lies of Charles Dickens (published by Icon Books) lifts the cover on what we think we know about Dickens from his friend and sanctioned biographer John Forster. In this episode we try to spend some time with Dickens’ wife Catherine, and understand th…

1
THE SIGNAL-MAN 📚: with John Bowen 42:04

7M ago42:04

42:04

Dominic is joined by the inimitable Professor John Bowen who returns to this series to explore the hidden depths beneath the pages of one of Dickens' most iconic ghost stories -The Signal-Man Written only a year after Dickens survived the Staplehurst Rail Crash, The Signal-Man finds an author grappling with trauma and the conflicted feelings of fea…

1
THE LAZY TOUR OF TWO IDLE APPRENTICES 📚: with Dr. Emily Bell 51:28

7M ago51:28

51:28

Dominic is joined by the inimitable Dr. Emily Bell who guides the listener through the rollercoaster that is Charles Dickens & Wilkie Collins' Lazy Tour of Two Idle Apprentices - a unique blend of travel writing and ghost stories seen through the eyes of the quintessentially British characters of Francis Goodchild and Thomas Idle, who amusingly mir…

1
The Shorthand Mysteries: with Dr. Claire Wood & Prof. Hugo Bowles 31:44

7M ago31:44

31:44

Are you an unsung codebreaker? Does your knowledge and feel for Dickens mean that you could be the next person to crack some of the hieroglyphic mystery of the shorthand system that Dickens created for himself. Or are you able to trace the source of the writings that Dickens read from whilst dictating to his pupil Arthur Stone …? A year ago Dominic…

1
Copperfield, Chuzzlewit ... Partridge? : with Armando Iannucci 41:50

7M ago41:50

41:50

Welcome to this special one-on-one chat with Armando Iannucci - one of the leading comedy writers and political satirists of our time - where we delve into his literary passions and influences. This lively conversation peels back the layers of Armando's lifelong love of Charles Dickens - Martin Chuzzlewit in particular -and his interest in John Mil…

1
Dickens, Bergson & Time Travel: with Céleste Callen 1:09:31

8M ago1:09:31

1:09:31

What does it mean to experience time? Is it a linear journey from past to present, or is it a complex and intricate web of memories, feelings, and experiences? Our guest today is the inimitable Céleste Callen, from The University of Edinburgh, who delves into her thesis that explores subjective temporal experience in Dickens’ fiction, through the l…

1
THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD 📚: with Pete Orford 1:21:02

8M ago1:21:02

1:21:02

Welcome to a new series of Charles Dickens: A Brain on Fire!🔥 Today we take a deep dive into Dickens’ final, unfinished novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood … Joining us to talk about this extraordinary book, is the inimitable Dr Pete Orford who is a Lecturer in English Literature, and Course Director for the MA research in Charles Dickens, at the Uni…

1
Dickens' Handwriting: with Emma Bache 55:35

10M ago55:35

55:35

What if their scribbles on paper could reveal intimate details about a person’s character, personality, and even their health? Charles Dickens, one of the greatest authors in the annals of literature, is under the microscope in this riveting conversation with Emma Bache, one of the UK's top graphologists. Emma offers her expert analysis on Dickens'…

1
Paul Dombey's Wallpaper: with J.M. Varese 41:57

11M ago41:57

41:57

What do luxurious wallpapers, deadly poison, and supernatural elements have in common? Join host Dominic Gerrard for a captivating conversation with novelist and literary historian Jon Michael Varese as we unravel the mysteries of his latest novel, The Company. Set in 1870, this gothic tale follows the Braithwhite family as they grapple with the sh…

1
The Mega Dickens Readalong: with Katie Lumsden 50:00

11M ago50:00

50:00

Dominic welcomes the brilliant writer Katie Lumsden back to the podcast. Katie's debut novel The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, published by Penguin's Random House, is now out in the shops (both sides of the Atlantic) and ready to be a part of your summer reading. Katie has also launched a The Mega Dickens Readalong, where you the listener are all invit…

1
Bleak Health: with Nicholas Cambridge 46:15

12M ago46:15

46:15

Dominic is joined by Dr. Nicholas Cambridge who is an Honorary Research Fellow in Humanities at the University of Buckingham and a visiting scholar in Medical Humanities at Nova Scotia’s Dalhousie University. After qualifying as an electrical engineer, Nicholas switched career to became a GP and as a medical student won the first ever History of Me…

1
Biddy: with Laurie Ogden 22:21

1y ago22:21

22:21

Dominic is joined by the brilliant actress, poet & playwright Laurie Ogden. Together they talk about her experience filming her TV debut as Biddy in FX's Great Expectations ... Laurie's poetry collection Humaning is available to purchase here: Support the Show. If you like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy…

1
OLIVER TWIST 📚: with Emily Bell 1:02:35

1y ago1:02:35

1:02:35

Dominic is joined by the brilliant Dr. Emily Bell who digs deep into Dickens’ second novel: Oliver Twist; or, the Parish Boy’s Progress … Emily is a Lecturer in Digital Humanities & Digital Skills at the University of Leeds; and is an alumna of both the University of Warwick (where she read English) and York where she completed her MA and Phd. She …

1
Dickens Re-imagined: with Steven Knight 25:46

1y ago25:46

25:46

Dominic is joined by the inimitable Steven Knight who's exciting and daring screenplays include Peaky Blinders, Taboo and SAS Rogue Heroes. Steven also adapted the dark and thrilling FX A Christmas Carol (with Guy Pearce as Scrooge) and has now re-imagined Great Expectations in a new series led by Olivia Colman. Now screening on Hulu in the US and …

1
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times ..." A Tale of Two Cities (Chapter One): Read by Dominic Gerrard 7:11

1y ago7:11

7:11

Host Dominic Gerrard reads the opening chapter of A Tale of Two Cities ... Support the Show. If you like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrard Host: Dominic Gerrard Series Artwork: Léna Gibert Original Music: Dominic Gerrard Thank you for listeni…

1
Great Adaptations: with Harry Lloyd 41:34

1y ago41:34

41:34

Dominic is joined by the inimitable actor and Dickens descendant Harry Lloyd. Together they discuss their first impressions of FX’s new Great Expectations and Harry's experience of playing Dickens characters in previous BBC dramatisations of his Great Great Great Grandfather's works, and his career more widely. The copyright for this specific episo…

1
UPROAR! with Alice Loxton 48:00

1y ago48:00

48:00

Dominic is joined by the inimitable broadcaster & historian Alice Loxton who takes us on a journey into the frenzied and scandalous world of London society in the Georgian Period ... Alice is a celebrated presenter on History Hit and her new book UPROAR! takes a look at the movers and shakers of the time as seen through the eyes of caricaturists su…

1
THE BATTLE OF LIFE 📚: with Katie Lumsden 40:34

1+ y ago40:34

40:34

It's the 10th Day of Christmas ... and Dominic is joined by the brilliant writer Katie Lumsden where they attempt to examine, with fresh eyes, Dickens' long forgotten Christmas Book The Battle of Life ... An alumna of both Durham & Bath Spa Universities, her debut novel The Secrets of Hartwood Hall - set in 1852 - is now available to pre-order here…

1
Pip's Christmas Dinner: Read by Dominic Gerrard 14:39

1+ y ago14:39

14:39

Dominic reads a Christmas Day excerpt from Chapter IV of Great Expectations where Pip has to sit through the ordeal of a Christmas Dinner with a heavy conscience ... HAPPY CHRISTMAS! Support the Show. If you like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicger…

1
"Come in! and know me better man!" A Christmas Carol (Excerpt): Read by Dominic Gerrard 10:55

1+ y ago10:55

10:55

It's Christmas Eve! And Dominic reads an excerpt from Stave III of A Christmas Carol ... Support the Show. If you like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrard Host: Dominic Gerrard Series Artwork: Léna Gibert Original Music: Dominic Gerrard Thank y…

1
THE GOBLINS WHO STOLE A SEXTON 📚(Then Wrote a Carol & Rang A New Year In!) with Claire Wood 1:10:56

1+ y ago1:10:56

1:10:56

Dominic is joined by the wonderful Dr. Claire Wood again for a special Christmas episode on Charles Dickens' The Story of the Goblins who Stole a Sexton; A Christmas Carol and The Chimes ... Reading extracts from these stories is the brilliant actor Tom Andrews ... HAPPY CHRISTMAS!! Support the Show. If you like to make a donation to support the co…

1
A CHRISTMAS CAROL & Other Christmas Books📚: with Robert Douglas Fairhurst 57:15

1+ y ago57:15

57:15

Dominic is joined again by the inimitable Robert Douglas Fairhurst who returns to this series to explore Dickens' five iconic Christmas Books: A Christmas Carol, The Chimes, The Cricket on the Hearth, The Battle of Life & The Haunted Man ... Robert's latest book Metamorphosis: A Life in Pieces is available to order here Happy Christmas! Support the…

1
Rose Theatre A Christmas Carol: with Morgan Lloyd Malcolm 45:19

1+ y ago45:19

45:19

Dominic is joined by the brilliant Morgan Lloyd Malcolm: who’s writing for stage and screen includes her pivotal play Emilia - which won three Olivier Awards when it transferred from Shakespeare’s Globe to the West End - and a soon to be released adaptation of Josephine Hart’s Damage for Moonage, Gaumont & Netflix As a writer Morgan also works exte…

1
HARD TIMES 📚: with Gage McWeeny 1:01:51

1+ y ago1:01:51

1:01:51

Dominic is joined by Gage Mcweeny, who is Professor of English at Williams College, Massachusetts. Gage is an alumni of both Columbia and Princeton, with a specialism in nineteenth-century literature; sociology; and culture. His book The Comfort of Strangers: Social Life and Literary Form (OUP) examines that Victorian phenomenon of new people emerg…

1
"Implacable November weather ..." Bleak House Chapter One: Read by Dominic Gerrard 17:20

1+ y ago17:20

17:20

Host Dominic Gerrard reads the opening chapter of Bleak House ... Support the Show. If you like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrard Host: Dominic Gerrard Series Artwork: Léna Gibert Original Music: Dominic Gerrard Thank you for listening!…

1
Hulks, Convicts & Reform: with Anna McKay 44:43

1+ y ago44:43

44:43

Dominic is joined by the brilliant Dr. Anna Mckay who is a social and cultural historian who specialises in both 18th & 19th Century British Maritime history and the methods of confinement that were practised throughout that period. Anna's research has taken her to historic prisoner of war depots and penal colonies across the world. She has also un…

1
Dickens on Screen: with Andrew Davies 37:03

1+ y ago37:03

37:03

Dominic is joined by the inimitable Andrew Davies whose iconic screen adaptations include Bleak House, Pride & Prejudice, War & Peace, Les Miserablés, Middlemarch, Vanity Fair ... and many more! It all begins in 1976 with his iconic retelling of The Signalman ... To book for Dominic's GHOSTS AND MURDER live stream on Monday 31st October - which inc…

1
The Dickens Code: with Hugo Bowles & Claire Wood 1:00:16

1+ y ago1:00:16

1:00:16

In this bumper episode Dominic is joined by the brilliant Prof. Hugo Bowles from Italy's University of Foggia and welcomes back to the series the inimitable Dr. Claire Wood. Together they take the listener on journey inside THE DICKENS CODE: a project that seeks to crack the code of Dickens' unique form of shorthand, and decipher the author's hidde…

1
Ghosts at 48 Doughty St: with Emily Dunbar 35:59

1+ y ago35:59

35:59

Dominic is joined by the brilliant Dr. Emily Dunbar, curator at the Charles Dickens Museum in London. Today the museum launches its new exhibition To Be Read at Dusk: Dickens, Ghosts and the Supernatural ... Emily is here to guide us through what visitors can expect to encounter as they pass through the famous red door and cross the threshold of nu…

1
The French Revolution: with Adam Zamoyski 41:31

1+ y ago41:31

41:31

Dominic is joined by the fantastic historian Adam Zamoyski who shares his insight into the origins of both Revolutionary thought and action in the last quarter of the 18th Century: what Dickens famously calls 'The Period' in his A Tale of Two Cities ... Adam's celebrated titles on the Age of Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars include: Holy Madness,…

1
THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP 📚: with Claire Wood 1:09:26

1+ y ago1:09:26

1:09:26

Dominic is Joined by the brilliant Dr. Claire Wood, who is a lecturer in Victorian Literature at the University of Leicester and a former research associate at the University of York. Claire’s writing on Dickens includes: Dickens and the Business of Death, published by Cambridge University Press. Claire is also a founder of the Dickens Code which s…

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