At Home with the Braithwaites
Encyclopedia
At Home with the Braithwaites is a British comedy-drama
television series, created and written by Sally Wainwright
(except for the final four episodes). The storyline follows a suburban family from Leeds
, whose life is turned upside down when the mother of the family wins 38 million pounds on the lottery
. It was broadcast on ITV1
, for 26 episodes, from 2000 to 2003.
At the beginning of the first series, each member of the Braithwaite family has an issue. Alison (mother) has to decide what to do with the winnings, and when to tell her family. David (father) is having an affair with Elaine, his secretary at work. Virginia (eldest daughter) is on the verge of flunking out of university
. Sarah (middle daughter) has a crush
on her drama teacher. Charlotte (youngest daughter) suspects that her mother may be the mystery lottery winner.
Adam Harrison & Jamie Harrison as baby William (Series 3)
, with the help of a good friend, Marion, and an idealistic out-of-work accountant
, Pauline. David begins to regret having started an affair. Virginia falls in love with their the new next door neighbour, the selfish and manipulative Megan. A group of journalists attempt to track down and reveal the identity of the mystery lottery winner. Sarah has her advances toward her drama teacher rejected, and she reacts by sleeping with Phil, the boy next door, and becomes pregnant. By the end of the series, the truth comes out regarding Alison's lottery win and David's affair.
in the countryside. Alison and David struggle in an attempt to rebuild their marriage, and end up separating. Alison then has a romance with David's brother, Graham, much to David's dismay, until she realises that Graham is still seeing his wife. Sarah gives birth to a baby boy, William, and gets married to Phil in secret. Charlotte starts getting bullied at school, because of her family's new found wealth. Virginia is going out with Tamsin, a kind and sensible girl, but is still obsessed with Megan. By the end of the series, Alison and David decide to give their marriage another go.
with a guy from university. She and Virginia decide to raise the child together, until Tamsin realises that Virginia is still infatuated with Megan. A newspaper print a story saying that it was 12-year-old Charlotte who purchased the winning lottery ticket, and the lottery company take the family to court
, claiming back all 38 million pounds. A heavily pregnant Alison cracks and confesses during the trial, forcing the Braithwaites back to their old home and their old lives. Sarah starts seeing a married teacher. By the end of the series, Alison gives birth to a baby girl, Kate, and the family manage to retrieve their fortune following a legal technicality
and a retrial.
and starts a business as a wedding planner
. She also discovers that Phil, the father of her child, still has feelings for her. Charlotte starts going out with Jordan, Elaine's son, and the pair hatch a plan to get rid of the lottery winnings that Charlotte believes has caused all of the problems within her family. Virginia has to finally choose between Tamsin, who now has a baby girl, and Megan. Disapproving of her recent actions, Virginia, Sarah and Charlotte all struggle to get along with Alison. The final scene of the series sees the whole family, and their friends, arguing with each other, as Charlotte announces that she thinks she might be pregnant.
Sally Wainwright wrote the first two episodes of this series while Jonathan Harvey
wrote the next two with the final episodes written by Katie Baxendale.
and UK.TV in Australia, TV3 Ireland
in Ireland, TV One and Prime
in New Zealand, NRK in Norway, RTV Slovenija in Slovenia
, BBC America
in the United States, TVB Pearl
in Hong Kong
, YLE in Finland and Yes Plus
in Israel.
The first and second series are also available on DVD (Region 1, USA and Canada) from Acorn Media.
Series one, two, three and four are all available on Region 4 (Aus) DVD individually, and as a complete series box set.
Australia Release:
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
television series, created and written by Sally Wainwright
Sally Wainwright
Sally Wainwright is a British BAFTA nominated television writer and playwright. She won 2009 Writer of the Year Award given by the RTS in 2009 for Unforgiven.She was born in Halifax.Original television productions include:*Scott & Bailey...
(except for the final four episodes). The storyline follows a suburban family from Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, whose life is turned upside down when the mother of the family wins 38 million pounds on the lottery
Lottery
A lottery is a form of gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize.Lottery is outlawed by some governments, while others endorse it to the extent of organizing a national or state lottery. It is common to find some degree of regulation of lottery by governments...
. It was broadcast on ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
, for 26 episodes, from 2000 to 2003.
At the beginning of the first series, each member of the Braithwaite family has an issue. Alison (mother) has to decide what to do with the winnings, and when to tell her family. David (father) is having an affair with Elaine, his secretary at work. Virginia (eldest daughter) is on the verge of flunking out of university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
. Sarah (middle daughter) has a crush
Puppy love
Puppy love is an informal term for feelings of love or infatuation felt by young people during childhood and adolescence, so-called for its resemblance to the adoring, worshipful affection that may be felt by a puppy. 'Simple infatuation is often called a "crush" or "puppy love"...
on her drama teacher. Charlotte (youngest daughter) suspects that her mother may be the mystery lottery winner.
Cast
- Amanda RedmanAmanda Redman-External links:* ArtistsTheatreSchool.com* The-Little.co.uk...
as Alison Braithwaite - Peter DavisonPeter DavisonPeter Davison is a British actor, best known for his roles as Tristan Farnon in the television version of James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small and the fifth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who, which he played from 1982 to 1984.-Early life:Davison was born Peter Moffett in Streatham,...
as David Braithwaite - Sarah SmartSarah SmartSarah Smart is an English actress.Smart was born in Birmingham, West Midlands, England. Her career started as a child, notably in the television series Woof!. She is best known for a series of well-regarded television roles including Virginia Braithwaite, daughter of a lottery winning family in...
as Virginia Braithwaite - Sarah ChurmSarah ChurmSarah Churm is an English actress, perhaps best known for playing the part of Sarah, in the ITV comedy-drama series At Home with the Braithwaites, from 2000 until 2003....
as Sarah Braithwaite - Keeley Fawcett as Charlotte Braithwaite
- Julie GrahamJulie GrahamJulie Graham is a Scottish television and film actress.-Career:Graham's television roles have included The Houseman's Tale BBC TV Series , Alison McGrellis in Casualty ; Alice in Harry ; Alison McIntyre in Life Support ; Lisa Kennedy in The Bill ; Megan Hartnoll in...
as Megan Hartnoll - Kevin DoyleKevin Doyle (actor)Kevin Doyle is a British actor. He is known for playing as John Parr in the TV series The Lakes and for playing the Crawley's servant Joseph Molesley in the TV series Downton Abbey, as well as many other roles.-Stage:...
as Mike Hartnoll - Lynda BellinghamLynda BellinghamLynda Bellingham is a Canadian-born English actress, broadcaster and author, who is known for her distinctive husky voice.-Early life:...
as Pauline Farnell - Sylvia SymsSylvia SymsSylvia M. L. Syms OBE is a British actress. She is probably best known for her roles in the films Woman in a Dressing Gown , Ice-Cold in Alex , No Trees in the Street , Victim and The Tamarind Seed...
as Marion Riley - Judy HoltJudy HoltJudy Holt is a British television actress, most famous for her role as Elaine Fishwick in At Home with the Braithwaites.-Filmography:- External links :...
as Elaine Fishwick (Series 1, 2 and 4) - Ray StevensonRay Stevenson (actor)George Raymond "Ray" Stevenson is a Northern Irish-born English film and television actor. He is known for playing Titus Pullo in the BBC/HBO television series Rome , and in film as Dagonet in King Arthur and as Frank Castle/The Punisher in Punisher: War Zone and The Super Hero Squad Show...
as Graham Braithwaite (Series 2 and 3) - Lucy Whelan as Tamsin
- Hazel Douglas as Audrey Crowther
- Damian Zuk as Phil Skidmore
- Ishia BennisonIshia BennisonIshia Bennison is a British actress, best known for her television appearances, although she is also a veteran stage actress. Bennison is originally from Hull in Yorkshire.- Career :...
as Denise Skidmore - Garry Cooper as Colin Skidmore (Series 1, 2 and 3)
- Adam RaynerAdam RaynerAdam Rayner is an English actor, who has appeared on television in Mistresses, At Home with the Braithwaites and Making Waves. He has also appeared on stage in The Rivals , Romeo and Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing .-Filmography:* Making Waves, TV Series, 2004* The Line of Beauty...
as Nick (Series 4) - Scott Cooper as Jordan Fishwick (Series 4)
Adam Harrison & Jamie Harrison as baby William (Series 3)
Series One (2000)
In the first series (six episodes), Alison decides, for the time being, to not tell her family about the lottery win, as she worries it may have a negative effect on them. In an attempt to do something good with the money, she starts a charityCharitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
, with the help of a good friend, Marion, and an idealistic out-of-work accountant
Accountant
An accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
, Pauline. David begins to regret having started an affair. Virginia falls in love with their the new next door neighbour, the selfish and manipulative Megan. A group of journalists attempt to track down and reveal the identity of the mystery lottery winner. Sarah has her advances toward her drama teacher rejected, and she reacts by sleeping with Phil, the boy next door, and becomes pregnant. By the end of the series, the truth comes out regarding Alison's lottery win and David's affair.
Series Two (2001)
In the second series (eight episodes), the Braithwaites have moved in to a mansionMansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
in the countryside. Alison and David struggle in an attempt to rebuild their marriage, and end up separating. Alison then has a romance with David's brother, Graham, much to David's dismay, until she realises that Graham is still seeing his wife. Sarah gives birth to a baby boy, William, and gets married to Phil in secret. Charlotte starts getting bullied at school, because of her family's new found wealth. Virginia is going out with Tamsin, a kind and sensible girl, but is still obsessed with Megan. By the end of the series, Alison and David decide to give their marriage another go.
Series Three (2002)
In the third series (six episodes), Alison discovers that she is pregnant with Graham's baby. David suggests that they pretend he is the father, until it comes out that Graham actually is. Tamsin is also pregnant, as the result of a one night standOne Night Stand
One Night Stand is an HBO stand-up series that first aired on February 15, 1989. The half-hour series aired weekly and featured stand-up comedy specials from some of the top performing comedians. The series originally comprised 55 specials over the course of its four years on HBO...
with a guy from university. She and Virginia decide to raise the child together, until Tamsin realises that Virginia is still infatuated with Megan. A newspaper print a story saying that it was 12-year-old Charlotte who purchased the winning lottery ticket, and the lottery company take the family to court
Court
A court is a form of tribunal, often a governmental institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law...
, claiming back all 38 million pounds. A heavily pregnant Alison cracks and confesses during the trial, forcing the Braithwaites back to their old home and their old lives. Sarah starts seeing a married teacher. By the end of the series, Alison gives birth to a baby girl, Kate, and the family manage to retrieve their fortune following a legal technicality
Legal technicality
The term legal technicality is a casual or colloquial phrase referring to a technical aspect of law. The phrase is not a term of art in the law; it has no exact meaning, nor does it have a legal definition. It implies that that strict adherence to the letter of the law has prevented the spirit of...
and a retrial.
Series Four (2003)
In the fourth and final series (six episodes), Alison and David start divorce proceedings. Alison has a romance with her gardener, Nick. David starts seeing Elaine again. Sarah quits collegeCollege
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
and starts a business as a wedding planner
Wedding planner
A wedding planner is a professional who assists with planning and organization of weddings. Weddings are significant events in people's lives, and those involved are often willing to spend a considerable amount of money to ensure it is organized as perfectly as possible.Professional wedding...
. She also discovers that Phil, the father of her child, still has feelings for her. Charlotte starts going out with Jordan, Elaine's son, and the pair hatch a plan to get rid of the lottery winnings that Charlotte believes has caused all of the problems within her family. Virginia has to finally choose between Tamsin, who now has a baby girl, and Megan. Disapproving of her recent actions, Virginia, Sarah and Charlotte all struggle to get along with Alison. The final scene of the series sees the whole family, and their friends, arguing with each other, as Charlotte announces that she thinks she might be pregnant.
Sally Wainwright wrote the first two episodes of this series while Jonathan Harvey
Jonathan Harvey (playwright)
Jonathan Harvey is a British playwright whose work has earned multiple awards. He is also a former secondary school English teacher.-Life and works:...
wrote the next two with the final episodes written by Katie Baxendale.
Overseas
The series has been shown on ABC1ABC1
ABC1 was a United Kingdom based television channel from Disney using the branding of the Disney owned American network, ABC.The channel initially launched exclusively on the British digital terrestrial television platform Freeview on 27 September 2004. On 10 December 2004 it was launched on...
and UK.TV in Australia, TV3 Ireland
TV3 Ireland
TV3 is a free-to-air commercial television network in the Republic of Ireland. Launched on 20 September 1998 it was Ireland's first commercial broadcaster. The channel is owned by TV3 Group a subsidiary of Doughty Hanson & Co.-The TV3 Group:...
in Ireland, TV One and Prime
Prime Television New Zealand
Prime is the seventh national free-to-air television station in New Zealand. The station airs a mixed group of programmes, largely imported from Australia, the UK and the United States, as well as free-to-air rugby union, cricket and rugby league matches....
in New Zealand, NRK in Norway, RTV Slovenija in Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
, BBC America
BBC America
BBC America is an American television network, owned and operated by BBC Worldwide, and available on both cable and satellite.-History:The channel launched on March 29, 1998, broadcasting comedy, drama and lifestyle programs from BBC Television and other British television broadcasters like ITV and...
in the United States, TVB Pearl
TVB Pearl
TVB Pearl is one of the two free television services in Hong Kong that mainly broadcast in the English language, the other being ATV World. It is owned and operated by Television Broadcasts Limited, and together with its sister Cantonese language station TVB Jade, is broadcast from TVB City at 77...
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, YLE in Finland and Yes Plus
Yes Plus
Yes Plus channel was an Israeli television channel that broadcast foreign TV shows. It was available on yes, the Israeli satellite provider....
in Israel.
DVD release
Series one, two, three and four of At Home with the Braithwaites are all available on DVD (Region 2, UK).The first and second series are also available on DVD (Region 1, USA and Canada) from Acorn Media.
Series one, two, three and four are all available on Region 4 (Aus) DVD individually, and as a complete series box set.
Australia Release:
- At Home With The Braithwaites - Complete Series 1 (2 Disc Set) - 16 February 2007
- At Home With The Braithwaites - Complete Series 2 (2 Disc Set) - 7 May 2007
- At Home With The Braithwaites - Complete Series 3 (2 Disc Set) - 3 July 2007
- At Home With The Braithwaites - Complete Series 4 (2 Disc Set) - 5 September 2007
- At Home With The Braithwaites - The Complete Series (8 Disc Box Set) - 2 December 2007
Series 1
| Episode | Date | Total Viewers | ITV Weekly Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Series 2
| Episode | Date | Total Viewers | ITV Weekly Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Series 3
| Episode | Date | Total Viewers | ITV Weekly Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Series 4
| Episode | Date | Total Viewers | ITV Weekly Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|