Classic Serial - The Black Sheep - Episode 1

Chris Dolan's dramatisation of Honore de Balzac's entertaining tale of family rivalry and fortunes lost and won, set in 19th-century France. After Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo, Philippe Bridau becomes a reckless gambler who steals from his mother to finance his obsession. She foolishly continues to idolise him, and it is left to his more dependable brother Joseph to rescue the family from destitution. Narrator ...... Geoffrey Whitehead Philippe Bridau ...... Thomas Arnold Joseph Bridau ...... Mathew Pidgeon Agathe Bridau ...... Briony McRoberts Madame Descoings ...... Phyllida Law Desroches ...... Jon Glover Monsieur Hochon ...... Christian Rodska Madame Hochon ...... Colette O'Neil Max Gilet ...... Alan Cox Baruch ...... Nyasha Hatendi Giroudeau ...... David Holt Mariette ...... Liz Sutherland Directed by Bruce Young.