The Leaving of Liverpool
Encyclopedia
The Leaving of Liverpool is a 1992 television mini-series, an Australian–British co-production between the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
(ABC) and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The series was about the Home Children
, the migration scheme which saw over 100,000 British children sent to Commonwealth realms such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa.
) and Bert (Kevin Jones)—who meet at the Star of the Sea Orphanage in Liverpool
, England
in the 1950s. They are transported to Australia, where they are placed in a labour camp, and later forced to work at a sheep station.
. Alsop read a review of a book about the child migration scheme, Lost Children of the Empire. Although the scheme had continued until 1967 and had affected thousands of children, little was known about it. Alsop approached Penny Chapman, head of drama at the ABC, with the idea for the story and she approved the funding. Michael Wearing
, head of drama at the BBC, also agreed to fund and produce the miniseries.
The series was not shown in the UK until over a year later, when it was shown on BBC1 on 15 and 16 July 1993. The Child Migrants Trust, a charity representing child migrants, criticised the BBC for refusing to display a helpline number for the Trust, as the ABC had. The BBC responded that the series was a drama, not a documentary, and the corporation did not publicise helplines after drama programmes.
, The Leaving of Liverpool was nominated for Most Popular Telemovie or Mini Series, and won the award for Most Outstanding Telemovie or Mini Series.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
(ABC) and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The series was about the Home Children
Home children
Home Children is a common term used to refer to the child migration scheme founded by Annie MacPherson in 1869, under which more than 100,000 children were sent to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa from the United Kingdom....
, the migration scheme which saw over 100,000 British children sent to Commonwealth realms such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa.
Plot
The series follows two children—Lily (played by Christine TremarcoChristine Tremarco
Christine Tremarco is a British television actress.Educated at St Cecilia's Infant School and then Holly Lodge Girls' College, she was spotted in a school play and invited to a new dance and drama school...
) and Bert (Kevin Jones)—who meet at the Star of the Sea Orphanage in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in the 1950s. They are transported to Australia, where they are placed in a labour camp, and later forced to work at a sheep station.
Cast
- Christine TremarcoChristine TremarcoChristine Tremarco is a British television actress.Educated at St Cecilia's Infant School and then Holly Lodge Girls' College, she was spotted in a school play and invited to a new dance and drama school...
– Lily - Kevin Jones – Bert
- Frances BarberFrances BarberFrances Barber is an Olivier Award-nominated English actress with a long and distinguished stage career. She has also appeared in numerous television productions...
– Ellen - John Hargreaves – Harry
- Bill HunterBill Hunter (actor)William John "Bill" Hunter was an Australian actor of film, stage and television. He appeared in more than 60 films and won two Australian Film Institute Awards.-Early life:Hunter was a son of William and Francie Hunter...
– Father O'Neill - Frank WhittenFrank WhittenFrank Edgar Richard Whitten was a New Zealand television actor. He was more recently known for playing Ted "Grandpa" West in the New Zealand television show Outrageous Fortune.-Life and career:...
– Brother Jerome
Production
The screenplay was written by writing partners John Alsop and Sue Smith who were working together on the miniseries Brides of ChristBrides of Christ
Brides of Christ was an Australian television miniseries produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1991.The series takes place behind the walls of a Sydney convent school and deals with the struggles of both the Roman Catholic nuns and the young students to adapt to the many social...
. Alsop read a review of a book about the child migration scheme, Lost Children of the Empire. Although the scheme had continued until 1967 and had affected thousands of children, little was known about it. Alsop approached Penny Chapman, head of drama at the ABC, with the idea for the story and she approved the funding. Michael Wearing
Michael Wearing
Michael Wearing is a British television producer, who has spent much of his career working on various drama productions for the BBC. He is best known as the producer of the highly-acclaimed serials Boys from the Blackstuff and Edge of Darkness , which created for him a reputation as one of...
, head of drama at the BBC, also agreed to fund and produce the miniseries.
Broadcast
The Leaving of Liverpool first went to air over two nights, 8 and 9 July 1992, in Australia on ABC TV.The series was not shown in the UK until over a year later, when it was shown on BBC1 on 15 and 16 July 1993. The Child Migrants Trust, a charity representing child migrants, criticised the BBC for refusing to display a helpline number for the Trust, as the ABC had. The BBC responded that the series was a drama, not a documentary, and the corporation did not publicise helplines after drama programmes.
Awards
In the Logie Awards of 1993Logie Awards of 1993
The 35th Annual TV Week Logie Awards were presented on Friday 19 March 1993 at the Grand Hyatt in Melbourne and broadcast on Network Ten. Bert Newton hosted the evening for the 18th time...
, The Leaving of Liverpool was nominated for Most Popular Telemovie or Mini Series, and won the award for Most Outstanding Telemovie or Mini Series.