Ten Pound Poms series 2 cast and creator tease ‘massive change’ and a new family’s arrival in Australia

Ten Pound Poms follows a group of Brits escaping post-war Britain to embark on a life-changing adventure on the other side of the world.

After a challenging first year in Australia, series two follows nurse Kate Thorne (Michelle Keegan) and the Roberts family (led by Faye Marsay and Warren Brown) into 1957 on their adventure down under, each determined to achieve their slice of the Australian dream against all odds.

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Interview with Danny Brocklehurst (Creator, Writer, Executive Producer)

What’s new in series two?

For series two, we had both a problem and an opportunity. The problem was that we’d left a lot of cliffhangers in series one that we needed to resolve. We had to continue those stories forward and deal with them satisfactorily. But we also wanted to bring in new stories, so we had to cleverly weave a continuation of certain things from series one to series two, but also bring in the new, particularly for the Roberts family. We meet a new family who kickstart the new story that thrusts you across the next six episodes.

Can you tell us a little more about the new characters we meet in series two?

The Skinners are an Irish family who have travelled to Australia for a new start. The father and one son are mysteriously following on, so we initially only meet Maggie, Ray and Birdie. The three make an instant impact on our characters, especially Birdie who attracts the eye of young Peter. But soon, the family’s new lives down under are forever changed by an unforeseen event.

We also meet Benny Bates, a self-assured businessman who owns numerous properties in Sydney that are in need of TLC. Terry is drafted in to work on the slum housing, but is soon making a connection with Benny and being offered a different proposal. Christine and her children live in one of the properties that Benny owns, and Christine’s a single mother after the untimely death of her husband. Terry finds friendship with Chrissy and her kids and enjoys being with them in a way he missed out on with his own children because of war and his post-war drinking. For Chrissy, it is nice to have someone looking out for them, but there might be a blurring of the lines in their friendship…

Can you talk about the key themes in the series two?

There’s a consistent theme about not being able to escape yourself. You can go to the other side of the world and try to build a new life in the sunshine but, in the end, you always take yourself with you, and the baggage of yourself comes along too. Whereas the first season was about the arrival and the sense of what we encountered when we got there, series two is much more about “we’re here now; how do we bed-in; how do we become Australian?”.

What do you think viewers enjoyed most about series one and what can we expect from the tone of series two? How do you approach striking the right balance between darkness and fun?

I think what appealed most to people was the sense that it was about a world they may have not heard about, the ‘Ten Pound Poms’ assisted migration scheme, and that it tapped into the idea of escape. In terms of tone, we thought a lot about it moving into our second series. From the research that we did, we knew there were so many original stories of real people migrating to Australia in the 50s and 60s. For me it was about creating a show that would air on Sunday nights and feel optimistic, but whilst also dealing with some of the darkness and the reality of what a lot of those people encountered when they arrived in Australia – because they were sold a dream, and that dream was to some degree a lie.

Your work often focuses on incredible networks of families and relationships. Is there a reason why you like writing in that way?

A lot of the work I’ve done over the years have been focused on an ensemble of characters who end up being a family for each other in some way; be it the workforce or elsewhere. Ten Pound Poms was the ultimate expression of that really, because these people travelled to the other side of the world. They were all there for different reasons, but what they found when they arrived in the camp is that they had a shared experience – they had all given up their lives in the UK. This was a time before planes, when you had to spend six weeks on a boat to get to the other side of the world. You may never see people from home ever again.

How do you balance an ensemble cast and the various storylines?

We tend to have a rule of thumb, that the Roberts family – Terry and Annie in particular – alongside Kate, are the spine of the series. These three characters have most of the through line, and then other storylines hang off that.

Can we expect to see more of life outside the camp in series two?

We love Galgownie camp, but we also wanted to get out of it more in series two. There are so many wonderful places around Sydney where we wanted to film. For instance, the Blue Mountains are amazing, and we loved it there. It hasn’t changed that much from the 50s, so I thought it was a perfect place to set a romantic trip.

Interview with Michelle Keegan (Kate Thorne)

What do you love about Ten Pound Poms and playing Kate?

I love the historical aspect of the show. I didn’t know much about the Ten Pound Poms scheme before I was cast. Being able to delve into the research and meet people who went through that experience, meeting their families and hear their stories, I’ve loved that side of it. My favourite thing about Kate is that she has no fear – she fights for what she believes is right and even being a woman in the 1950s can’t stop her!

The first series ended on a cliffhanger after Kate found Michael in Australia. What can we expect from Kate’s story this series?

As we saw in the first series, Kate’s son Michael was sent to Australia in the care system and was adopted into an Australian family, which Kate didn’t know. Trying to find him is what took her to Australia. This series is really about Kate trying to expose the fact that her and her son have been separated against her wishes, which happened to so many families and to so many women in the 1950s, it’s absolutely heartbreaking. Kate is not just trying to help herself and Michael, but she wants to help others as well and put a stop to families being unnecessarily separated.

What does the second series hold for Annie and Kate’s friendship and what does their bond mean to Kate?

Kate leant on Annie a lot throughout in series one; Annie was there as a confidante and a best friend, and Kate really valued Annie’s friendship, especially as she came to Australia on her own. This series though we see Annie lean on Kate more when she shares a big secret with her in confidence, it’s something that she’s never told anyone before and really shows how she has so much trust in Kate.

What’s it like working opposite Faye?

Working with Faye is like having a masterclass each day. Watching her play Annie is incredible – she’s so talented and she raises the bar on set, which makes me want to try and get there as well! She’s just brilliant, and so generous. She gives you everything, even when the camera is on the person opposite her, she still gives you 110%.

What advice would you give to Kate moving into series two?

We saw Kate go through so much in the first series, so the piece of advice I would give to her going into series two is “don’t be so reckless, your actions do have consequences and although you feel what you are doing is right as a mother, those actions also affect your son Michael as well as the people around him.” Kate needs to think more before she acts.

How have Kate’s costumes evolved this series compared to the last? Have you got any favourites?

We’ve got an amazing costume team who obviously do a lot of research before we start filming. We have lots of fittings and discuss what the character would wear and why. Kate wore a lot of men’s clothes in the first season and she was quite dowdy; she didn’t want to put herself on show in any way because she wanted to blend into the background. This series, we’ll see a much more traditionally feminine side to Kate – she’s wearing dresses a little more, and she’s in heeled shoes. My favourite costume is the pink dress Kate wears in the ‘not Christmas Party’ scene with Robbie; it’s the first time we’ve seen Kate in pink, and that scene is such fun – it’s great to play Kate having a good time. She’s been on an emotional journey since she’s been in Australia, so it’s nice for her to let her hair down, have a laugh and just have fun.

Kate, Terry and Annie all experience more of Australia this series. Can you tell us about some of the locations you’ve filmed in?

We’ve returned to the camp Galgownie location in Scheyville, which is an hour and a half drive each morning from Sydney, but it’s worth it because it’s so beautiful. We’ve filmed a lot around Sydney, but my favourite location this series has to be the Blue Mountains as they are absolutely stunning. I’ve seen so many photographs, but when you experience them in real life, the scenery is just breathtaking. We filmed really high up on a cliffside that overlooked the landscape – it was definitely a pinch me moment!

What have you enjoyed most about living and working in Australia?

A real highlight for me is getting to see this side of the world. If it wasn’t for Ten Pound Poms, I probably wouldn’t ever have travelled to Australia because it’s so far from the UK, but having the opportunity to work here and explore Australia at the same time is amazing. I’ve loved Sydney – you have the beach, the city and the bush all within driving distance.

This trip I’ve really travelled and explored a little bit more. We rented a car, so every weekend we went to different places. I think one of our favourite places we visited was the Hunter Valley – wine country. We stayed there for a couple of nights and spent time wandering around the vineyards. We’d wake up in the morning and see kangaroos across the fields. It was just a truly lovely experience and something I think we’ll both look back on in years to come and remember how good it was.

Are there any home comforts you like to bring with you when shooting overseas?

I always pack my good pyjamas – my favourite ones come with me along with my slippers! The thing that I buy first though whenever I’m working overseas is a dressing gown, it’s my home comfort and it’s got to be a comfy, cozy, oversized one.

Is there anything that you miss in particular about the UK when you’re filming away from home?

The roast dinner! A home-made roast dinner – it’s just not the same. We ate out lots and went to different restaurants on a Sunday to try and find a roast. Don’t get me wrong, some of them were good, but it just doesn’t match the one at home in the UK. Plus, you need to be indoors, all cosy whilst it’s getting slightly dark outside, and you can’t forget the gravy of course! That’s what makes a UK roast dinner.

Interview with Faye Marsay (Annie Roberts)

What’s new for the Roberts family this series?

Series two brings a massive change for the Roberts family. We have a new addition in baby Mary, Pattie’s daughter, so for the whole family it’s about adjusting to this part of their life that wasn’t the plan. Annie thought she was finished raising young children, and could move forward and propel her career and her sense of independence. but now Annie and Terry are tackling the kind of restrictions that a new baby in the family brings, with Pattie being a young, single woman in the 1950s.

Outside of Annie’s family responsibilities, can you tell us what series two holds for her?

Annie’s major journey throughout this series is about her trying to establish herself as independent and the breadwinner of the family. She wants to have a successful job, she wants to have a successful business. She wants to expand the experiences that she’s privy to, being a woman in 1957 – like wearing a bikini and running Marlene’s store – totally new experiences for women. Annie’s ultimately trying to carve out a place where she feels valued away from the family unit and her identity as a mother, grandmother and a wife. Now Annie’s left England, there’s an opportunity there for her to find out how far she can go on her own journey.

Can you tell us about some of the challenges Annie faces in going about finding that new independence as a woman in the 1950s?

Well, wearing bikinis was banned in Australia for most of the 1950s, and women were given fines on beaches in Australia for wearing them because they showed too much flesh. Meanwhile, men could be in their trunks, almost completely naked, and that was acceptable. For Annie, that double standard is unfair. Her view is that people should be able to express themselves however they like and so she advocates for that and bravely puts herself out there – which is quite a gutsy thing to do. I don’t think any of these challenges break down Annie’s rebellious streak, they only serve to ignite her frustrations and she sees injustice everywhere. She’s just lived through a World War and I like how intuitive Annie is; she feels life truly needs to be lived and needs to mean something. She is at the forefront of women trying to take control of their destiny.

What advice would you give Annie as she embarks on that personal journey this series?

My advice to Annie would be: “You’ve made the jump now, so you have to keep moving forward.” If she’s going to be someone who is progressive, then she has to stay true to that, regardless of what is thrown at her family. “Stay true to your belief in a better life” is what I would say to her.

What do you love most about Ten Pound Poms and playing Annie?

What I love about the show is it sheds light on a period of history that I don’t think many Brits know about; I certainly didn’t know about it and I like getting the opportunity to tell stories that haven’t been told before. These people sat on a boat for six weeks and then had to make their way in this strange, new country. I have spent a lot of time in Australia now and its beautiful, but completely different to the UK. The climate is different, the creatures are different – and terrifying – and you’re so far away from home. In terms of the character, Annie has taken a massive risk to move her entire life and family across the world, out of a post war Britain that was not good for her family, and she’s had the guts to kind of try and find somewhere to make sense of everything that’s been going on in her life; I admire that about her.

What have you enjoyed the most about filming in Australia and is there anything in particular that you miss when you return to the UK?

I enjoy the sunshine and Sydney has some of the best food I’ve tasted. The fact that you can be near the water in a major city, and find pockets of peace is something I don’t get as much of in London. The coastline is stunning and the city is vibrant. I miss the people – Australian crews are some of the best I’ve worked with. Plus, I miss the weather and the food for sure; the creatures that kill you, not so much!

Interview with Warren Brown (Terry Roberts)

What do you think makes Ten Pound Poms so appealing to viewers?

Speaking from my own perspective, the appeal was learning something that was quite crucial to Australian and British history that I didn’t know much about. It was amazing how many people got in touch whilst we were filming the first series and thereafter, saying that they knew people or they had relatives or that they themselves were Ten Pound Poms. This is a fictional take on that experience, but I think viewers went on the journey with us and fell in love with these characters as they saw the trials and tribulations that came as a result of them moving to the other side of the world.

Can you tease a little of what we can expect for Terry throughout series two?

Terry starts off strong in Australia this series. He’s overcome a lot of the struggles we saw in series one and he lands himself new job. However, that doesn’t necessarily go as smoothly as he hopes and he has a run in or two with his new boss. A lot of our characters from series one are returning, but there’s a few new additions as well – Terry befriends one of our new families, who he meets through his new job, and that causes some drama for the Roberts later on this series. Plus, Terry experiences the perils of the Australian bush… I won’t give too much away but let’s just say it’s traumatic for him!

Tell us about Terry’s friendship with Christine. What do you think draws him to helping her and her children?

Terry meets Christine and her two young children, whilst ‘fixing up’ one of the properties owned by his new boss. The housing conditions are really poor, and he tells Annie that it makes the Galgownie Hostel ‘look like paradise.’ I think he feels bad for the family and he goes above and beyond the job he’s actually paid to do, to help them out.

With the arrival of baby Mary, plus Annie’s ambition to rediscover her independence, there’s a lot of change in the Roberts family for Terry. How does he cope with that?

Whilst still trying to adjust to their new life in Australia, the arrival of Patty’s daughter and Annie’s ambition for independence, certainly adds more pressure to the Roberts’ family dynamic. Terry is focused on earning money to get his family off the camp and into their own home, but I think he struggles a bit with Annie wanting to work, feeling like now more than ever she is needed at home.

What do you think viewers will love about series two?

Hopefully they will want to find out how our Poms are getting on and how they are adapting to their new lives in Australia. A few things were left unresolved at the end of season one, and as ever there are certain to be more challenges and obstacles for them to navigate. There are familiar faces and also the arrival of new families on the camp, most notably the Skinner family.

Are there any home comforts that you like to bring with you when shooting overseas?

Things like my laptop and phone are essential for work, but it also means it’s so easy for us to stay connected with friends and family back home, especially with things like FaceTime. A luxury that we possibly take for granted today and one that wouldn’t have been afforded to our Poms back in that time period. We also managed to find a place in Bondi that did a cracking Sunday Roast!

Interview with Sophie Williams (Executive Producer)

What do you think appealed so much about series one of Ten Pound Poms?

I think it’s a number of things, but mainly escapism. It’s nice to watch something sunny and aspirational when you’re sitting at home in the cold! But also the series shows ordinary people taking a risk all those years ago and it’s based in truth as this is something that people really did. I don’t know how many viewers really knew about the scale of the Ten Pound Poms scheme so they were really drawn the seeing people wanting to go on adventures and travel the world and change their lives.

What’s new in series 2?

We thought a lot about what people responded well to – what they enjoyed and who they enjoyed. We also thought a lot about how we could stay true to what we had started in series one, but also open it up, expand it and take the characters into new worlds. With the characters, we wanted to explore how the experience of moving their whole lives to Australia might have changed them and how they might start to make the most out of it.

Also, whilst we were very proud of the light and shade in series one, we learnt that we could lean into the lightness a bit more. Tom McKay, who directed block two, has a comedy background and Tom brought that lightness in terms of the work he’s done and the attitude that he brought to set.

How has Kate’s world expanded?

In series one, Kate’s sole objective was to find her son, and that was what drove her every move, really. So, in series two, now that Kate’s found her son in this all-consuming journey, we wanted to think deeply about who she really is, what’s her identity?

How have the younger characters from series one grown up this series?

It’s been a joy actually, and some of my favorite storylines this series are with Peter and his coming of age and stepping into adolescence. We’re seeing the younger characters now as young adults in new situations and trying things for the very first time. Being able to put them in social situations that they’ve not been in before, and seeing how they navigate it, is really fun.

What do you hope viewers will take away from the series this time around?

We are inviting people to come back to the characters that they fell in love with in series one and spend time with them exploring whether they’re going to make a success of being in Australia, if they’re going to achieve their dreams, and also whether they are willing to cross certain lines in order to achieve those dreams. Hopefully it will be entertaining, heart wrenching, and fun!