Paul Abbott on Charles Dickens - 200 years on

Charles Dickens was born 200 years ago but his stories are still being told today.

Ahead of the 200th anniversary of Dickens' birth, Shameless creator and well know film and television writer, Paul Abbott, told BBC News that the author's work was an "absolute act of genius".

He said that Dickens compelled audiences to read about social issues.

"He was making the world want to read about the state of the British under-class," he said.

Film clips courtesy of Oliver Twist BBC