Simon Callow, the acclaimed actor, writer and director (Amadeus, Four Weddings and Funeral, A Room With A View, Shakespeare in Love) looks at the influence of a trip to America on Dickens's writing and the novel, Martin Chuzzlewit. Simon then brings to life the 'supreme creation' A Christmas Carol, and uncovers the real-life inspirations from Charles Dickens’ own world and the fictional characters we know so well.

About Simon Callow:
Simon Callow is probably best known for his roles in Four Weddings and a Funeral, A Room with a View and Shakespeare in Love. After abandoning his academic course at Queens College, Belfast, Simon trained at London’s Drama Centre. He appeared with a variety of companies before obtaining his break as Mozart in the National Theatre production of Amadeus. In the film version, he played the impresario Schikaneder. More recent acting credits include Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Woman in White, Where Love Reigns and The Merry Wives of Windsor. He also featured in Jamie’s Dream School, teaching Drama. Simon is also an accomplished director. Credits include his own translations of The Internal Machine, Jacques and his Master and Carmen Jones. He has also written and starred in a one-man show about Charles Dickens. A prolific talent, Simon has written acclaimed studies of Charles Laughton, Richard Wagner and Orson Welles - as well as his autobiography.
Honours:
CBE (For Sevices To Acting) Awarded In 1999
Honorary Doctorate Lld: Birmingham University
Honorary Doctorate Lld: Queens University, Belfast
Honorary Doctorate Lld: The Open University