Summer of Rockets

Summer of Rockets is a six-episode British Cold War television miniseries, which premiered on BBC Two in the United Kingdom on 22 May 2019. The series was written and directed by Stephen Poliakoff and stars Keeley Hawes, Linus Roache, Timothy Spall and Toby Stephens.[1] It is a semi-autobiographical story based on Poliakoff's childhood and his father, Alexander Poliakoff.[2]

Summer of Rockets
GenreDrama
Screenplay byStephen Poliakoff
Directed byStephen Poliakoff
Starring
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producers
  • Helen Flint
  • Lucy Richer
Production locations
Running time60 minutes
Production companyLittle Island Productions
Original release
NetworkBBC Two
BBC Two HD
Release22 May (2019-05-22) –
26 June 2019 (2019-06-26)

Plot

Samuel Petrukhin, a Russian-born Jewish inventor living in England, is given a secret mission by MI5. Samuel, who specialises in the development of hearing aids, is asked to use his expertise to contribute to western Cold War efforts. Following the tensions of the Space Race and the first hydrogen bomb test, Samuel's work plays a part in the emergence of the modern world.

Cast

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date [6]UK viewers
(millions) [7]
1"Episode 1"Stephen PoliakoffStephen Poliakoff22 May 2019 (2019-05-22)2.76
In the summer of 1958, hearing-aid manufacturer Samuel Petrukhin is preparing to launch his revolutionary new invention. His family become involved with the mysterious Shaw family, while his daughter Hannah participates in the final London debutante season.
2"Episode 2"Stephen PoliakoffStephen Poliakoff29 May 2019 (2019-05-29)1.99
Samuel is given a mission by MI5, and the Shaws hold a village fete in their garden. Kathleen reveals to Hannah that her son, Anthony, has been missing for five years. Hannah volunteers at a civil defence training drill for responding to a nuclear strike.
3"Episode 3"Stephen PoliakoffStephen Poliakoff5 June 2019 (2019-06-05)1.74
Samuel continues to spy on the Shaws. Kathleen visits Sasha at his boarding school, and increases her attempts to locate Anthony. Hannah's subterfuge is exposed, and she spends more time with Esther, one of Samuel's employees.
4"Episode 4"Stephen PoliakoffStephen Poliakoff12 June 2019 (2019-06-12)1.83
Samuel expresses his doubts over his mission. Kathleen pursues her lead. Sasha is caught searching for information about Anthony, and runs away from his school.
5"Episode 5"Stephen PoliakoffStephen Poliakoff19 June 2019 (2019-06-19)1.52
Samuel is shot, and after his recovery insists his family go into hiding separately. Esther helps Kathleen to discover a clue to Anthony's concealed passion, leading her to a country hotel. Samuel becomes involved in a conspiracy.
6"Episode 6"Stephen PoliakoffStephen Poliakoff26 June 2019 (2019-06-26)1.38
Anthony denies his identity. Samuel is tasked with exposing the conspiracy, but is preempted by a comedy sketch. Hannah holds a party.

Production

Development

Summer of Rockets was originally announced in May 2017 alongside two other BBC commissions, which were 2017's Little Women and 2018's A Very English Scandal.[8] In May 2018, Keeley Hawes, Toby Stephens, Timothy Spall and Linus Roache were announced as joining the project.[1]

Filming

Filming began in Oxford and in London in May 2018.[1] Filming also took place in Stevenage, Hertfordshire in July 2018 at Benington Lordship, and at Reddam House, Berkshire in August.[9] Filming also took place at The Royal Masonic School for Girls in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire in August 2018 and at the former RAF Upper Heyford air base in Oxfordshire.

The streets outside the Ropery at the Chatham Dockyard in Kent were used to film the 1950s civil defence exercise in the series and the upper floors of the Ropery itself featured as civil defence training rooms.[10]

Reception

Writing for The Guardian, Emine Saner gave the first episode four stars out of five.[11] The Times gave it three stars out of five, praising the production but found it inconsistently engaging.[12] The Evening Standard found the episode 'hammy' but complimented the acting and mystery.[13]

References
  1. "BBC - BBC Two announces Toby Stephens, Keeley Hawes, Linus Roache and Timothy Spall lead cast of Stephen Poliakoff's Summer Of Rockets - Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  2. Saner, Emine (22 May 2019). "Summer of Rockets review – Poliakoff has pulled it off at last!". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  3. "Summer Of Rockets: Keeley Hawes and more confirmed for new BBC drama". Den of Geek. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  4. "Keeley Hawes and Toby Stephens to lead new BBC Cold War drama". Radio Times. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  5. "Greg Austin plays Anthony Shaw in the new Stephen Poliakoff drama 'Summer of Rockets' for BBC two". www.jonathanarun.com. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  6. "Summer of Rockets – Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  7. "Four Screen Dashboard". BARB. See relevant channel and week(s). Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  8. "Stephen Poliakoff is back on BBC2 with Summer of Rockets". Radio Times. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  9. McEvoy, Louise (2 July 2018). "BBC crews spotted filming new drama Summer of Rockets in Benington and Watton-at-Stone". The Comet. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  10. "Kent Film Office Summer of Rockets Article". Kent Film Office.
  11. "Summer of Rockets review – Poliakoff has pulled it off at last!". TheGuardian.com. 22 May 2019.
  12. Midgley, Carol. "Summer of Rockets review — a slow start, but this drama could be a blast".
  13. "Mysterious threads and Russian spies in thriller Summer of Rockets". 22 May 2019.
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