Who doesn’t love a ghost story at Christmas? The Chimes is Charles Dickens’ follow-up festive story to his much-loved novel A Christmas Carol and, though equally popular in its day, has since become lost in the mists of time.  

Adapted by Jonathan Morris, one of Big Finish’s most popular and prolific writers, and directed by Lisa Bowerman, responsible for the Jago & Litefoot series, The Chimes rings with themes that remain topical today and includes ghosts, goblins and time-travel. 

Toby Jones (The Detectorists) leads a cast that includes David Horovitch (House of the Dragon), Lucy Speed (EastEnders), Laura Aikman (Casualty) and Victoria Alcock (Bad Girls). 

The Chimes will be released on 30 November 2023 and is currently available to pre-order for the discounted price of £9.99 (download only) here. 

Toby Veck is a man who worries that he has become a burden on society and that his family would be better off without him. He’s troubled by a newspaper report about a young mother who recently killed herself by jumping off London Bridge. He’s been told that the poor don’t deserve sympathy, and that some people are just born bad. And he’s starting to believe it… 

But on New Year’s Eve, the Chimes set out to prove him wrong. 

Producer Jonathan Morris said: “Every Christmas, there are dozens of new adaptations of A Christmas Carol – but nobody ever does the story that Dickens wrote the following year as a thematic sequel. While A Christmas Carol is about a rich man learning to love, The Chimes is about a poor man, driven to despair, learning that his life has meaning and that he is needed and loved. In many ways, it pre-empts Frank Capra’s It’s A Wonderful Life. 

“And, like It’s A Wonderful Life, The Chimes ultimately has a positive message, reminding us that everyone has value and that everyone deserves the chance of a better future. It’s Dickens writing about people being forced into poverty during a cost-of-living crisis. It may be Dickensian, but it’s a story that remains relevant today.” 

Big Finish chairman, Jason Haigh-Ellery added: “Growing up in the 70s and 80s I was first introduced to Charles Dickens through the BBC’s Sunday afternoon adaptations, which I avidly watched. In due course, I also read a number of the books and was delighted when Jonathan Morris contacted me and offered The Chimes to Big Finish, as this was not a Dickens story I had read or seen before. 

“I was blown away by Jonathan’s adaption and the direction from Lisa Bowerman, as well as the wonderful score by Howard Carter. I was very keen to release this lesser-known gem of a Dickens story. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!” 

Praise for The Chimes:  

“The entire cast is spot on. Toby Jones brought humanity, warmth, and depth to Toby Veck. I now have another great addition to my Dickensian Christmas audio collection.”
SciFi Pulse 

“Whether this tale is fresh to your ears or you’re a fully paid-up Dickens scholar, The Chimes is an accomplished production that can be enjoyed any time of the year.”
We Are Cult 

"1844 and 2022 are more alike than perhaps we’d like to believe, and this engaging adaptation is a chance to experience Dickens’ powerful tale. 9/10”
Sci Fi Bulletin  

“A Christmas Carol may be the Dickens story we want to hear this time of year, but The Chimes is the Dickens story we need to hear this time, this year.”
Set The Tape  

“[Toby Jones] is up there with many of the best cinematic Scrooges... This version of The Chimes WORKS AS WELL as the best A Christmas Carol you’ve ever seen. Yes, even the Muppet one.”
Warped Factor 

All the above prices include the special pre-order discount and are subject to change after general release.