Like the similarly themed drama Marchlands, 32 Brinkburn Street is not only the story of two families but also of the house itself. A strong daytime series stripped across a week the story begins in 1931 when Walter Olgilvie is covering up a dark secret in the walls of the attic. Looking on is his wife Gracie and mother-in-law Elizabeth.
Meanwhile 80 years later in 2011 Frank Olgivie has lived in the house for his entire life but doesn’t know the secret of the attic that could tear his family to pieces. His daughter Ellie and her husband Nick have recently moved back into the family home along with Ellie’s step-daughter Poppy.
More than just a good drama 32 Brinkburn Street also offers up a good contrast in the way that our grandparents lived and the way we live now. The action moves fluidly between the two time frames, both families are struggling financially – back in the 1930’s Gracie is even forced to take in a lodger, the mysterious Sid, to make ends meet.
The casting is great too, not only the marvellous Maggie Steed but Ciaran McMenamin and Rebecca Callard who hasn’t been seen on TV enough over the last few years.
classic quote
“Nobody talks about this, ever”…
production details
UK | BBC1
RUNNING TIME: 45 minutes | NUMBER OF EPISODES: 5 | AIRDATES: Monday 28 March – Friday 1 April 2011
Creator: Karen Laws / Script Supervisor: Mandy Mason / Music: Ty Unwin / Production Design: Andrea Hughes / Executive Producers: Gerard Melling, Jessica Pope, Hilary Martin / Producer: Erika Hossington / Director: Daniel Wilson
cast
REBECCA CALLARD as Gracie Olgilvie
JACK DEAM as Walter Olgilvie
MAGGIE STEED as Elizabeth
EVA POPE as Ellie
CIARAN McMENAMIN as Sid
RAFFEY CASSIDY as Nora
JOE DIXON as Nick
DAVID ROSS as Frank
TISHA MERRY as Poppy
ADAM BOLTON as Michael
AMY TICKLE as Violet
SEAMUS GUBBINS as Patrick
JOAN KEMPSON as June
TIM DANTAY as Bill
JOHN CATTERALL as Violet’s Boyfriend
STEVE JACKSON as David
WUNMI MOSAKU as Joy
ANDREW READMAN as Doctor Lloyd
