Dawn French features in a TV adaptation of Dickens' 'David Copperfield' this Christmas on BBC television. This two-part dramatisation has more than its share of big names including Maggie Smith, Bob Hoskins, Ian McKellen and Zo� Wanamaker.
Dawn French, who plays the tippling Mrs Crupp ("peppermint cordial, you understand... for my spazzums") struck up an instant studio friendship with Maggie Smith, who plays Betsey Trotwood. Smith, during rehearsals, ad-libbed a suitable riposte to Crupp's constant, drunken mispronunciation of her name ("Grotwood... Trotgood" and so on). "Thank you, Mrs Crapp," snapped Smith.
The two-part adaptation starts on Christmas Day at 7.00pm an concludes on Boxing Day.