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 Ten Pound Poms, British citizens who migrated to Australia after the Second World War. The series premiered on 14 May 2023 on BBC One and has six episodes.[1] The first episode attracted an overnight audience of 4.6 million viewers.

Ten Pound Poms
Stan promotional poster
GenreHistorical drama
Created byDanny Brocklehurst
Written by
  • Danny Brocklehurst
  • Ryan Griffen
  • Smita Bhide
  • Ava Pickett
Directed by
Starring
ComposerJack Thorburn Matthias
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Australia
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
Production locationAustralia
Production companyEleven Film
Release
Original network
Original release14 May 2023 (2023-05-14)

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. 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

Main

Recurring
  • Hattie Hook as Pattie Roberts
  • Finn Treacy as Peter Roberts
  • Declan Coyle as Stevie Cartwright
  • Travis McMahon as Ivan Cartwright
  • David Field as Dean Spender
  • Johnny Nasser as Bob Travers
  • Penny Day as Sandra
  • Toni Scanlan as Margie Thorne
  • Trisha Morton-Thomas as Auntie May
  • Cheree Cassidy as Marlene Chase
  • Berynn Schwerdt as Arty Farthington
  • Alastair Bradman as Michael Thorne
  • Paiton Kwok as Birrani
  • Waangenga Blanco as Yarran
  • Sarah Furnari as Maria
  • Miah Curran and Neve Curran as Elizabeth and Margaret Anderson
  • Rose Chachko as Kylie
  • Libby Fleming as Veronika Müller
  • Alex Andreas as Nick

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date [1]U.K. viewers
(millions)
1"Episode 1"Jamie Magnus-StoneDanny Brocklehurst14 May 2023 (2023-05-14)6.35
In dreary postwar Manchester, Annie Roberts is at her wits' end when husband Terry spends all his wages down the pub. Desperate for a better life for her children, Annie responds to an emigration advert that promises Brits a prosperous new life in Australia for a tenner. Expecting whitewashed houses and sun-soaked adventures, the Roberts family arrive in Sydney to find life down under isn’t quite what they’ve been sold.
2"Episode 2"Jamie Magnus-StoneDanny Brocklehurst21 May 2023 (2023-05-21)4.90
A haunted Terry retraces his steps from the night before. Reassured that all is okay, he returns to his boisterous family. Meanwhile, Kate gets a lead on Michael’s whereabouts, and her next-door neighbour Bill goes to extreme lengths to get himself a bit of extra cash.
3"Episode 3"Jamie Magnus-StoneRyan Griffen28 May 2023 (2023-05-28)4.46
Annie is furious when Terry stays out all night. To give him a taste of his own medicine, Annie leaves Terry home alone with the kids and bonds with Kate on a cross-country road trip. With their mum miles away and their dad preoccupied with his demons, Peter and Pattie run wild.
4"Episode 4"Ana KokkinosSmita Bhide4 June 2023 (2023-06-04)4.19
Annie invites Terry to Marlene’s party in the hope that they can let their hair down. But seeing a carefree and integrated Annie only makes Terry feel like more of an outsider, and his PTSD spirals. With her parents out all night, Pattie tries to confront her problems head-on and ends up in a dangerous situation.
5"Episode 5"Ana KokkinosAva Pickett11 June 2023 (2023-06-11)4.33
Terry is forced to confide in Arty and Ron over a business venture. Annie ignores their problems by accepting an invitation from Nick. Back at the hostel, Stevie convinces Pattie to spend the day with him, and Kate leaves her hut behind in pursuit of a suburban address. With everyone preoccupied, Peter gets forgotten.
6"Episode 6"Ana KokkinosDanny Brocklehurst18 June 2023 (2023-06-18)4.52
Annie is compelled to make a stand for migrants and stages a peaceful protest, but things get quickly out of hand, and Pattie is badly hurt. Kate returns amidst the carnage to find a surprise visitor waiting, and Sheila’s desperation spirals.

Production

Development
Carcoar in central New South Wales stood in as the fictional Corburn

In May 2022, the BBC announced that Ten Pound Poms had been commissioned by Piers Wenger, Director of BBC Drama. The show is a co-production between BBC and Stan, produced by Eleven for BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and Stan in Australia.[2]

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.[3]

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

All episodes were made available on BBC iPlayer and Stan on 14 May 2023, and one episode a week was 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.[4]

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.[5]

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."[6]

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.[7]

Camilla Long, in a TV round-up for The Times, described the series as a cross between Hi-de-Hi! and Crocodile Dundee, adding that it was "a hilariously watchable drama in which no Australian cliché was left unturned."[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]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Subject Nominee Result Ref.
2023 Golden Nymph Awards -
Monte-Carlo Television Festival		 Fiction - Best Series Ten Pound Poms Won [10]
Fiction - Best Actor Warren Brown Won

References
  1. "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. 28 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  2. "BBC One announces Ten Pound Poms, a new original drama series from Danny Brocklehurst". BBC Press Office. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  3. "Michelle Keegan, Faye Marsay and Warren Brown lead the cast of new BBC drama, Ten Pound Poms". BBC Press Office. 20 June 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. Long, Camilla (21 May 2023). "Steeltown Murders — I blame Mad Men for sex dresses in this period drama". The Times. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  9. Einay, Dan (12 May 2023). "Ten Pound Poms, TV review — what to do when paradise is cockroach-infested?". Financial Times. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  10. "'Ten Pound Poms,' 'The Fragile Colossus,' 'The Seed' Triumph at Monte-Carlo Television Festival". Variety. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
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