For thousands of Britons in the 1960s, Australia was presented as the promise of a fresh start: a new country, better opportunities and a brighter future for just £10.
But the reality awaiting those who made the journey was far more complicated.
The BBC drama Ten Pound Poms, created by BAFTA-winning writer Danny Brocklehurst, follows a group of British migrants who leave post-war Britain for Australia in 1965, only to discover that starting over on the other side of the world comes with challenges they never expected.
Who Stars in Ten Pound Poms?
The series features a strong ensemble cast, led by Michelle Keegan, Faye Marsay and Warren Brown.
Michelle Keegan as Kate Thorne
Michelle Keegan takes the lead as Kate Thorne, a nurse who travels to Australia with a very different motivation from some of the other migrants.
Keegan is best known for playing Tina McIntyre in ITV’s long-running soap Coronation Street. She also starred as Sergeant Georgie Lane in the BBC drama Our Girl.
Away from acting, Keegan is married to former The Only Way Is Essex star Mark Wright.
In Ten Pound Poms, she takes on the role of Kate, whose decision to travel Down Under is driven by personal circumstances rather than simply the promise of a better life.
Faye Marsay as Annie Roberts
Faye Marsay plays Annie Roberts, a woman who persuades her husband and their two children to leave Britain and begin a new life in Australia.
Marsay has built an extensive television and film career. Her previous roles include Anne Neville in The White Queen, Amy in Need for Speed, Candice in Fresh Meat and Steph in the film Pride.
She also appeared as Blue Colson in the Black Mirror episode Hated in the Nation and played the Waif during the fifth and sixth seasons of Game of Thrones.
In the new drama, Annie’s decision to emigrate places her entire family on a very different path.
Warren Brown as Terry Roberts
Warren Brown portrays Terry Roberts, Annie’s husband.
Brown began his acting career with two episodes of Shameless before taking on the role of Andy Holt in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks. His performance earned him nominations for Best Villain, Most Spectacular Scene and Best Exit at the 2006 British Soap Awards.
He later appeared as DS Justin Ripley, John Luther’s partner in Luther, as well as taking roles in Casualty, The Bill and Good Cop.
In Ten Pound Poms, Terry faces his own struggle to adapt to his unfamiliar surroundings and fit into the Australian workforce.
The Rest of the Cast
The supporting cast includes:
- Hattie Hook as Pattie Roberts
- Finn Treacy as Peter Roberts
- Stephen Curry as JJ Walker
- David Field as Dean
- Emma Hamilton as Sheila Anderson
- Leon Ford as Bill Anderson
- Berynn Schwerdt as Arty
- Cheree Cassidy as Marlene
- Rob Collins as Ron
Together, the ensemble portrays the British migrants and the people they encounter as they attempt to establish new lives in Australia.
What Is Ten Pound Poms About?
The six-part drama is set in 1965, following a group of Britons who leave post-war Britain after being offered the opportunity to relocate to Australia for just £10.
The scheme promised migrants the chance to build a better life in a country on the other side of the world.
But the reality is considerably less straightforward.
Once they arrive, the migrants discover that the life they were promised comes with its own difficulties. Far from home and forced to adapt to a completely different environment, they must deal with the challenges of work, relationships and fitting into their new surroundings.
Rather than focusing solely on the excitement of migration, the series explores the highs and lows that come with starting again in an unfamiliar country.
For Annie and Terry Roberts, the move places additional pressure on their family, while Kate Thorne arrives in Australia with motivations of her own.
The drama therefore combines the larger story of post-war migration with the personal struggles of the people attempting to make the journey work.
Where Was Ten Pound Poms Filmed?
Despite being a story about Britons leaving Britain behind, the entire series was filmed in Australia.
The production used locations in and around Sydney, as well as areas further into New South Wales, giving the drama an authentic Australian backdrop.
Sydney
Some scenes were filmed in and around Sydney, with Scheyville National Park serving as one of the primary filming locations.
The Australian setting also presented an unexpected challenge for Michelle Keegan.
Although Australia is often associated with sunshine and warm weather, the conditions she encountered were much colder than anticipated.
Keegan explained to RadioTimes.com that the cast had arrived expecting to pack summer clothes, only to find themselves needing warmer clothing almost immediately. She recalled having to go shopping for a raincoat after landing.
Blue Mountains and Carcoar
The production also traveled to the Blue Mountains and Carcoar.
Carcoar, in New South Wales, is around three and a half hours from Sydney and sits beyond the Blue Mountains. According to Warren Brown, some of the most demanding scenes were filmed there.
The location was particularly important for Terry’s storyline, allowing the series to explore his difficulties as he attempts to adapt to the workforce around him.
Brown described these scenes as some of the production’s most challenging, reflecting the physical and emotional difficulties faced by his character.
When Did Ten Pound Poms Premiere?
The first episode aired on BBC One at 9pm on Sunday, May 14, 2023.
The drama consists of six episodes, with one episode scheduled each week. Each installment runs for approximately one hour.
For viewers who prefer to watch the story in one sitting, all six episodes were also made available as a box set on BBC iPlayer.
At its heart, Ten Pound Poms is not simply a story about moving from Britain to Australia. It is about what happens after the journey is over — when the excitement of a promised new beginning gives way to the much harder reality of building a life somewhere completely unfamiliar.
