Low expectations: BBC’s awakened adaptation of Dickens classic Great Expectations loses nearly 3 million viewers

The BBC’s modern adaptation of Great Expectations has suffered a ratings flop, losing nearly 3 million viewers since the first episode aired last month.

Steven Knight’s adaptation, starring Olivia Colman as Miss Havisham and Fionn Whitehead as Pip, is mired in controversy over wakery charges and the inclusion of opium addiction and sadomasochism.

Episode one drew 4.4 million viewers and peaked at 5.5 million, but by episode two, 1.8 million were off.

Last week’s penultimate episode only took in 1.5 million, about 2.9 million less than in the first episode.

It’s one of the biggest losses for a new BBC drama so far this year. The Gold, starring Jack Lowden as Kenneth Noye, one of the masterminds behind the Brink’s-Mat robbery, lost 2 million viewers in six episodes, while Belfast police drama Blue Lights lost 1.2 million.

Better, about a corrupt cop, dropped 1.4 million, while Death in Paradise spin-off Beyond Paradise dropped just 740,000.

Knight’s previous Dicken’s adaptation, A Christmas Carol, opened to $4.6 million in December 2019, losing $1.4 million over three nights.

The Dickens Fellowship said the latest ratings slump was the result of “appalling dialogue” and a “juvenile attempt at shock.”

Paul Graham, honorary general secretary, told the Mail: ‘It comes as no great surprise. Far too many great liberties have been taken with the original story. It is mis-sold as Great Expectations.

Apart from the fact that the majority of the characters – except in name – bear little resemblance to the originals as depicted by Dickens, and the rather youthful attempt to shock through scenes of sadomasochism, drug use and an anti-imperial rhetoric, the dialogue it’s terrible.

“That to me is the greatest arrogance, to omit the brilliant dialogue that Dickens wrote and replace it with something far inferior.”

Knight previously expressed interest in tackling A Tale Of Two Cities.

But Mr Graham said: ‘Perhaps a drop in ratings could lead those in power to reconsider.’

Viewers were shocked to see Mr. Pumblechook, played by Matt Berry, bare-bottomed, being spanked over a bed by housewife-turned-dominatrix, Mrs. Gargery, played by Hayley Squires.

Miss Havisham was portrayed as an opium addict who regularly smokes with Estella.

The show was also criticized for repeated references to the British Empire’s connections to the slave trade and use of profanity.

Great Expectations ends Sunday at 9pm on BBC1.