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'Les Misérables' On The BBC: Some Viewers Just Cannot Get Over The Lack Of Songs

"I've started singing every song whenever a line makes reference to one."
Rachel McGrath
By 

Reporter

The BBC’s hotly-anticipated adaptation of ‘Les Misérables’ has been promoted by the channel quite a lot over the festive season, but that didn’t stop some viewers from being shocked by the absence of one thing.

Yes, we mean the songs.

Much like the oft-forgotten film version of ‘Les Misérables’, which features Liam Neeson and is best left forgotten (trust us, sorry Liam), the Beeb’s new version brings the book to our screens, not the musical.

Unfortunately, this move left some viewers disappointed. Among them was MP Anna Soubry...

Blimey #LesMiserables is a barrel of laughs .... not even a song to enjoy ..

— Anna Soubry MP (@Anna_Soubry) December 30, 2018

"Is this background music or are they going to sing?"
Me every 2 minutes#LesMiserables

— Charlie (@CharlieEdmunds) December 30, 2018

I love Victor Hugo and his writing but Boublil and Schönberg’s music adds that glimmer of hope and light in the bleakness of such a morbid and depressive story!
THAT’S why we need the songs god damnit!#LesMiserables

— Rebecca (@baileyandme_) December 30, 2018

These valid points were made too:

Don't do it Fantine! He'll spend a summer by your side, he'll fill your days with endless wonder, he'll take your childhood in his stride but he'll be gone when autumn comes #LesMisérables

— Iain Sykes (@iaincsykes) December 30, 2018

People aren’t going to believe this but the novel #LesMiserables by Hugo doesn’t have any songs in it either.

— Stig Abell (@StigAbell) December 30, 2018

I would argue that #LesMiserables with no singing is still better than Les Mis with Russell Crowe singing.

— Peter Shaw (@3rdcatproblems) December 30, 2018

Sorry, Russ.

And some viewers found themselves humming the tracks from the stage show while tuning in, which is a good compromise to be honest:

Is anyone else singing LOOK DOWN in their head...#LesMiserables

— Rebecca (@baileyandme_) December 30, 2018

Ok, I’m doing it! “Do You Hear the People Sing?” No, no I don’t 😳 #LesMisérables

— Nicky Sweetland (@NickySweetland) December 30, 2018

Oh god my mind can’t take it.. I’ve started singing every #LesMisérables song whenever their line makes a reference to the songs!! 😬😂 @BBCOne pic.twitter.com/G321zukbSu

— Georgina Robertson (@Its__Me__G) December 30, 2018

Starring Dominic West, Lily Collins and David Oyelowo, the BBC’s big budget adaptation takes the form of a six-part series.

The first episode was well-received by critics and the drama continues on Sunday at 9pm.

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