| The tale of David Copperfield from his birth and idyllic upbringing through hardship and adventure leading to his eventual discovery of his vocation as a novelist. On his journey David encounters a gallery of Dickens' most memorable characters, including Mr. Micawber, Uriah Heep, Steerforth, and others. |
| Name | Character | Episodes |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel Radcliffe | Young David Copperfield | 2 |
| Maggie Smith | Betsey Trotwood | 2 |
| Ian McKellen | Creakle | 2 |
| Zoë Wanamaker | Miss Murdstone | 2 |
| Imelda Staunton | Mrs. Micawber | 2 |
| Dawn French | Mrs. Crupp | 2 |
| Emilia Fox | Clara Copperfield | 2 |
| John Normington | Dr. Chillip | 2 |
| Nicholas Lyndhurst | Uriah Heep | 2 |
| Harry Lloyd | Young Steerforth | 2 |
| Ian McNeice | Mr. Dick | 2 |
| Tom Wilkinson | Narrator (voice) | 2 |
| Bob Hoskins | Micawber | 2 |
| Karl Johnson | Tungay | 2 |
| Joanna Page | Dora Spenlow | 2 |
| Alun Armstrong | Dan Peggotty | 2 |
| Paul Whitehouse | Pawnbroker | 2 |
| Michael Elphick | Barkis | 2 |
| Oliver Ford Davies | Mr. Wickfield | 2 |
| Trevor Eve | Murdstone | 2 |
| Ciarán McMenamin | David Copperfield | 2 |
| James Grout | Mr. Spenlow | 2 |
| Jacqueline Tong | Lady in Coach | 2 |
| Pauline Quirke | Peggotty | 2 |
| Patsy Byrne | Mrs. Gummidge | 2 |
| Amanda Ryan | Agnes Wickfield | 2 |
| Clare Wilkie | Julia Mills | 2 |
| James Thornton | Ham Peggotty | 2 |
| Laura Harling | Little Emily | 2 |
| Peter Sproule | Bootmaker | 2 |
| Oliver Milburn | Steerforth | 1 |
| Cherie Lunghi | Mrs. Steerforth | 1 |
| Clare Holman | Rosa Dartle | 1 |
| Colin Farrell | Milkman | 1 |
| Aislín McGuckin | Emily | 1 |
| Kenneth MacDonald | Littimer | 1 |
| Thelma Barlow | Mrs. Heep | 1 |