Amy Dorrit lives in the Marshalsea Prison for Debt with her father, William Dorrit, who has been an inmate there for countless years. Amy is employed as a seamstress by the stern and formidable Mrs Clennam. Events are set in motion in the Clennam household when Mrs Clennam's son, Arthur, returns unexpectedly from China after an absence of fifteen years, bringing the news that his father, who's also been in China, has died. Arthur is convinced that his father died with something on his conscience, but Mrs Clennam adamantly dismisses any suspicion of wrongdoing.

Arthur befriends Amy Dorrit and involves himself in her family's affairs.

Amy receives a proposal of marriage and the villainous Rigaud arrives in London.

Pancks recruits John Chivery to help solve the mystery at the heart of the Dorrit family.

Mr. Dorrit is released from the Marshalsea and sets off on a Grand Tour with his family.

Fanny has stolen the heart of Edmund Sparkler, whose mother is keen to separate them.