Charles Dickens’ dirty laundry is to be aired in public as Channel 4’s Victorian Passions season explores the author’s secret lover.

For 13 years the Rochester writer lived a double life, conducting a passionate affair with actress Ellen Ternan, who was 27 years his junior.

Tonight’s hour-long programme documents the lengths he went to to conceal the romance, using a string of safe houses, complex financial arrangements, and burning private letters and papers.

Many of the locations where the romance was conducted are featured in the programme in an attempt to piece together any evidence and testify the couple’s love.

The programme airs tonight at 9pm.

For more see www.channel4.com