The Leaving of Liverpool (TV series)
| Company type | Television drama miniseries |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television production |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Products | Television drama |
| Parent | Australian Broadcasting Corporation, British Broadcasting Corporation |
The Leaving of Liverpool is a 1992 television drama produced as a collaboration between the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). This Australian-British co-production portrays the Home Children migration program, which relocated more than 100,000 British children to Commonwealth nations such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa.
Plot
Set in the early 1950s, the narrative centers on two youngsters—Lily (portrayed by Christine Tremarco) and Bert (Kevin Jones)—who cross paths at Liverpool’s Star of the Sea Orphanage in England. After being sent to Australia under the child migrant scheme, they face separation and harsh treatment. Lily eventually reunites with her mother and returns to Britain, whereas Bert is placed in a juvenile detention center.
Cast
- Christine Tremarco as Lily
- Kevin Jones as Bert
- Frances Barber as Ellen
- John Hargreaves as Harry
- Bill Hunter as Father O'Neill
- Frank Whitten as Brother Jerome
- Darren Yap as Dave
- John O’Hare as Singlet
- Tom Long as Ned
- Russell Kiefel as Brogan
- Sally McKenzie as Official Woman
- Josh Quong Tart as Thug
- Bob Baines as Senior Brother
Production
The screenplay was crafted by John Alsop and Sue Smith, who had previously worked together on the miniseries Brides of Christ. Alsop’s interest was sparked after reading a review of Lost Children of the Empire, a book detailing the child migration program. Although this scheme impacted thousands until 1967, it remained largely unrecognized. Alsop presented the concept to Penny Chapman, ABC’s drama head, who authorized funding. Meanwhile, Michael Wearing, BBC’s head of drama serials, also allocated resources for the production.
Broadcast
The Leaving of Liverpool first aired in Australia on ABC TV across two evenings, 8 and 9 July 1992. Its UK debut followed over a year later on BBC1, broadcast on 15 and 16 July 1993. The Child Migrants Trust expressed concern that the BBC did not provide a helpline number during its airing, unlike ABC’s version. The BBC responded by emphasizing that the series was a drama rather than a documentary and typically did not display helpline information after dramatized content.
Awards
At the Logie Awards of 1993, The Leaving of Liverpool secured the award for Most Outstanding Telemovie or Mini Series and received a nomination for Most Popular Telemovie or Mini Series.
External links
- 1990s Australian television miniseries
- 1990s British television miniseries
- 1992 television films
- 1992 films
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation original programming
- BBC television dramas
- 1992 Australian television series debuts
- 1992 Australian television series endings
- Films about forced migration
- Films directed by Michael Jenkins