The cast included Frank Finlay as Jean Valjean and Michael Napier Brown as the barber.

Although the original master videotapes were wiped, 35mm film copies of the series survived the BBC's archival purge and it was released by Simply Media onto DVD in 2019.

The series follows the lives of various characters in 19th-century France, with a primary focus on Jean Valjean, a former convict seeking redemption.

Valjean's journey intertwines with other characters, including the tragic Fantine and the principled Inspector Javert.

Against the backdrop of social unrest and revolution, the series explores themes of justice, love, and redemption.