In 2022–23, DODGER returned for four hour-long specials: TRAIN, CHRISTMAS, BAD EGG and CORONATION.

The specials featured a host of guest stars, including Robert Lindsay, Mark Benton, Jane Horrocks, Alex Kingston, Lenny Rush, David Threlfall, James Fleet, Harry Peacock, Matt Holness, Paul Whitehouse, Simon Callow, Alex Macqueen, Toby Stephens and Nicola Coughlan.

The first special, TRAIN, won the Royal Television Society Award for Best Children’s Programme. The final special, CORONATION, received an International Emmy nomination for Best Kids: Live-Action Programme.

All episodes were directed by Rhys Thomas and written by Rhys Thomas and Lucy Montgomery. 

The specials premiered on BBC iPlayer, followed by broadcasts on CBBC and BBC One.

CORONATION

In the final special, Fagin, Dodger and the gang return to London for their most ambitious robbery yet: stealing Queen Victoria’s crown during the rehearsal for her coronation.

Nicola Coughlan stars as the young Queen Victoria, alongside Toby Stephens as American president Martin Van Buren, Simon Callow as the Archbishop of Canterbury, Alex Macqueen as the crown jeweller and Paul Whitehouse as the chief of the Yeoman Guard.

Reviews for CORONATION

★★★★★ The Guardian — Jack Seale

“There is a laugh every minute in Dodger.”

Seale praised the special’s comedy and guest cast, describing it as:

“A supremely funny, star-packed delight.”

Read Jack Seale’s full five-star review

★★★★ The Telegraph — Jasper Rees

“Please, Sir! We want more, more, more of this fizzingly witty Dickens adaptation.”

Rees praised the script by Rhys Thomas and Lucy Montgomery and the special’s impressive cast, concluding:

“It’s a mystery why this delight hasn’t been held back for Christmas Day.”

Read Jasper Rees’s full four-star review

SEE ALL EPISODES HERE:

 https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p0bh0ftr/dodger?seriesId=p0bh0ftr-structural-2-m001fqsb