'Masterpiece' BBC series based on 1843 classic is now streaming on iPlayer

A Christmas Carol is a 2019 British dark fantasy drama television miniseries based on the 1843 novella by Charles Dickens. Steven Knight writes the three-part series with Tom Hardy and Ridley Scott among its executive producers. It first aired on BBC One in the UK on December 22 2019, and concluded two days later on Christmas Eve.

Filming locations for A Christmas Carol included Rainham Hall in East London and Lord Leycester Hospital in Warwick. Cast members include Guy Pearce, Andy Serkis, Stephen Graham, Charlotte Riley, Johnny Harris, Jason Flemyng, Vinette Robinson and Joe Alwyn.

This adaptation was meant to present a darker take on the classic story, with a goal to appeal towards a more adult audience. The drama has several trigger warnings as it involves adult language, brief nudity, horror elements, implications of child molestation, forced prostitution and a depiction of a child drowning.

The series synopsis reads: "A Christmas Carol is a story about miserly businessman Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited by four ghosts on Christmas Eve: his deceased partner Jacob Marley, and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. These spirits show him scenes from his past, present, and future to reveal the unhappiness caused by his greed, ultimately leading to his transformation into a kind and generous person."

One fan of the series said: "Great adaptation of a well-known tale. Loved the whole vibe this show gives throughout all the episodes."

Another described it as a "masterpiece," adding "This version of Dickens classic tale of redemption is truly a masterpiece. There are some who say that Dickens would find this treatment appalling, and I think he would, only for its raw honesty being too horrific for the public in his time, not ours. The themes explored in this tale are just a deeper dive into what we know and love about A Christmas Carol. "

"This has become our favourite version of this Christmas classic. Although it says it's based on Dickens' A Christmas Carol, it seems to pull a lot of its plot ideas from the book "Jacob T. Marley". The ending seems more appropriate for a man like Scrooge and more in keeping with the idea of earning redemption. The acting is excellent. Guy Pearce is superb as Scrooge. He fully embraces each step in Scrooge's journey so that one can believe in his reclamation," added a third.

A Christmas Carol is available to stream right now on BBC iPlayer.