'Masterpiece' BBC period drama with Downton Abbey icon streaming for free

A BBC period drama boasting a stellar cast has been praised by audiences members as one of the finest adaptations of a Charles Dickens novel, after others have enjoyed a show on par with the acclaimed author's works and another programme serving as a love letter to the writer.

The two-part drama came out in 1999 and featured the great and good of British acting talent.

Many have showered the mini-series with praise and there have been countless 10/10 reviews hailing the timeless classic.

One enamoured audience member declared on IMDb: "Wonderful Dickens adaptation, elevated by excellent acting."

The user added: "The production values are superb, like in Bleak House and Little Dorritt [sic], the sets are realistic-looking, the scenery breathtaking and the costumes sumptuous."

A second commented that the production "must be one of the very best" adaptations of the beloved novel.

They explained: "Acting, interpretation, sets, casting, music, cinematography, script, pace and direction. All were equally superb, and I think it will be a long time before it is even remotely bettered by any future one."

A third wrote: "Wonderful acting--a must for fans of Dickens!" and commented: "This movie presents Dickens in the way Dickens was meant to be seen on the screen. Bravo!"

Someone else wrote: "Dickens would be proud" and elaborated: "While the 1935 version is adorable and brought Freddie Bartholomew to the world, there's just no comparison to the 1999 miniseries."

Concluding: "Hats off to teleplay adapter Adrian Hodges, and to everyone in the cast. This is a classic to treasure."

The BBC's 1999 adaptation of David Copperfield has remained one of the most-loved versions of the story and marked Daniel Radcliffe's big acting debut in the title role.

The part would pave the way for Radcliffe to take on the lead as Harry Potter in the Hollywood film franchise.

There was much praise for Radcliffe's first onscreen performance, as one person said: "This is Daniel Radcliffe's first movie, and he is wonderful in it!"

A second person noted in their review titled "The best Adaptation" how "This adaptation by far beats all the David Copperfield movies. Daniel Radcliffe as David Copperfield is wonderful! He is so angelic as David."

Along with Radcliffe, David Copperfield also starred the late, great Bob Hoskins and Dame Maggie Smith.

Other stars include Silent Witness' Emilia Fox, Birds of a Feather's Pauline Quirke, Waking the Dead's Trevor Eve, Alun Armstrong, Zoë Wanamaker from My Family fame, Sir Ian McKellen, Only Fools and Horses actor Nicholas Lyndhurst, Gavin and Stacey's Joanna Page, Imelda Staunton, and Counterpart's Harry Lloyd.

David Copperfield was based on Dickens' 1850 semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, following the title character through his humble and difficult beginnings in Victorian England as he tries to build a life for himelf.

David Copperfield (1999) is streaming on the BBC iPlayer now and Prime Video and Apple TV+ for a fee