Ten Pound Poms (TV series)
Ten Pound Poms is a British historical drama television series created by Danny Brocklehurst for BBC One and Stan. The series stars Michelle Keegan, Faye Marsay and Warren Brown as British citizens who migrated to Australia after the Second World War.
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| Genre | Historical drama |
| Created by | Danny Brocklehurst |
| Written by |
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| Directed by | |
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
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| Production location | Australia |
| Production company | Eleven Film |
| Release | |
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| Picture format | 2:1 1080p |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original release | 14 May 2023 |
The series premiered on Sunday 14 May 2023 on BBC One and has six episodes.[1] The first episode attracted an overnight audience of 4.6 million viewers, making it the most viewed BBC drama premiere since Vigil in 2021.
Premise
The story follows a group of Britons, often then colloquially known as Poms in Australia and New Zealand, departing post-war Britain in 1956 for Australia, having been promised a better house, better job prospects and a better quality of life for just £10. However, the group soon learn life in Australia is not as promised.
Struggling with their new identity as immigrants, the series follows their triumphs and pitfalls as they adapt to a new life in a new country far from Britain and familiarity.
Cast
- Michelle Keegan as Kate
- Faye Marsay as Annie
- Warren Brown as Terry
- Hattie Hook as Pattie
- Finn Treacy as Peter
- Declan Coyle as Stevie
- Stephen Curry as JJ Walker
- David Field as Dean
- Emma Hamilton as Sheila
- Cheree Cassidy as Marlene
- Berynn Schwerdt as Arty
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date [1] | U.K. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Episode 1" | Jamie Magnus-Stone | Danny Brocklehurst | 14 May 2023 | 4.63[2] |
| 2 | "Episode 2" | Jamie Magnus-Stone | Danny Brocklehurst | 21 May 2023 | TBD |
| 3 | "Episode 3" | Jamie Magnus-Stone | Ryan Griffen | 28 May 2023 | TBD |
| 4 | "Episode 4" | Ana Kokkinos | Smita Bhide | 4 June 2023 | TBD |
| 5 | "Episode 5" | Ana Kokkinos | Ava Pickett | 11 June 2023 | TBD |
| 6 | "Episode 6" | Ana Kokkinos | Danny Brocklehurst | 18 June 2023 | TBD |
Production
Development
In May 2022, the BBC announced that Ten Pound Poms had been commissioned by Piers Wenger, Director of BBC Drama. The show is co-production between BBC and Stan, produced by Eleven for BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and Stan in Australia.[3]
Casting
The cast were confirmed in June 2022. Michelle Keegan, Faye Marsay and Warren Brown lead the cast alongside Australian actors Rob Collins, Leon Ford, Declan Coyle, David Field, Stephen Curry, Hattie Hook, Finn Treacy and Emma Hamilton.[4]
Filming
The series began filming in Australia in May 2022, taking place primarily in Scheyville National Park and Carcoar, with additional scenes in Sydney.
Release and reception
The first episode of the series was first shown at a screening held at Rio Cinema in east London on 29 April 2023, attended by the cast and crew.
All episodes were made available on BBC iPlayer and Stan on 14 May 2023, and one episode a week will be broadcast on BBC One, each Sunday evening following the initial premiere.
Ratings
Episode 1 attracted an overnight audience of 4.6 million, making Ten Pound Poms the most viewed BBC drama premiere since Vigil in 2021. It had a 34% viewership share at 21:00, making it the highest performing title of the day.
Critical response
The series has received generally positive reviews. Anita Singh, reviewing for The Telegraph, described the series as a "solidly enjoyable Sunday night drama" in which writer Danny Brocklehurst "weaves his plots and characters with confidence". She awarded the series four stars.[5]
Morgan Cormack from Radio Times called the series "an intriguing period piece that will definitely teach viewers a thing or two" and added that although the stories were written "so convincingly...you only hope they could have had the breathing room to be contemplated more". Cormack praised performances by Marsay and Brown, ultimately giving the series three stars.[6]
Alex Moreland for National World awarded the show three stars too, while praising Marsay and Brown's performances, and commenting that the series "ultimately...makes for a strong addition to the Sunday night drama slot." They added that the series has "an engaging premise...brought to life by talented actors and a capable script."[7]
The Guardian journalist Rebecca Nicholson also gave the series three stars, adding it was "nicely compelling, and a real education for those not familiar with the Ten Pound Poms story"; however, they criticised the series' overly broad approach tackling issues such as racism and sexism.[8]
Dan Einav, in their two star review for Financial Times, criticised "laboured subplots", and noted that although the series has "some vaguely thrillerish stakes...ultimately Ten Pound Poms leaves the viewer feeling short-changed."[9]
References
- "BBC announces Ten Pound Poms premiere date and releases first trailer and new image for major new drama series starring Michelle Keegan, Faye Marsay and Warren Brown". BBC Press Office. 2023-04-28. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
- "Ten Pound Poms sails to 4.6m". Broadcast. 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
- "BBC One announces Ten Pound Poms, a new original drama series from Danny Brocklehurst". BBC Press Office. 2022-05-19. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
- "Michelle Keegan, Faye Marsay and Warren Brown lead the cast of new BBC drama, Ten Pound Poms". BBC Press Office. 2022-06-20. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
- Singh, Anita (14 May 2023). "Ten Pound Poms, BBC, review: an enjoyable retelling of the Brits who found a fresh start Down Under". The Telegraph. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
- Cormack, Morgan (11 May 2023). "Ten Pound Poms review: A character-led period drama that's intriguing, yet crowded". Radio Times. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- Moreland, Alex (12 May 2023). "Ten Pound Poms review: Warren Brown and Faye Marsay impress in engaging BBC One drama". National World. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- Nicholson, Rebecca (11 May 2023). "Ten Pound Poms review – surely no one in 1956 was a stranger to this level of racism and sexism?". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- Einay, Dan (12 May 2023). "Ten Pound Poms, TV review — what to do when paradise is cockroach-infested?". Financial Times. Retrieved 12 May 2023.