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. The first episode attracted an overnight audience of 4.6 million viewers.

In February 2024, the BBC confirmed a second series, with Keegan, Marsay and Brown all set to return.

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 (equivalent to £206.61 in today's money). 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.

Main

 * Michelle Keegan as Kate Thorne
 * Warren Brown as Terry Roberts
 * Faye Marsay as Annie Roberts
 * Rob Collins as Ron Mohoney
 * David Field as Dean Spender
 * Stephen Curry as JJ Walker
 * Leon Ford as Bill Anderson
 * Emma Hamilton as Sheila Anderson
 * Hugo Johnstone-Burt as Henry Broad
 * Nic English as Robbie Carter
 * Nikki Shiels as Fran Robinson

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
 * Tara Morice as Ward Sister Mulligan

Guests

 * Bruce Spence as Father

Development
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 and Curio Pictures for BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and Stan in Australia.

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.

Filming
Filming for the first series began in Australia in May 2022, taking place primarily in Scheyville National Park and Carcoar, with additional scenes in Sydney and Luton Hoo, Bedfordshire. Filming for the second season was reported to be underway as of April 2024.

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.

Series one of Ten Pound Poms was one of the UK’s biggest new dramas of 2023, launching to a 28-day figure of 7.7 million viewers.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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."

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."

NME described the series as "an eye-opener", ranking it 10th place on its 10 Best Australian TV shows of 2023 list.