Episode 1

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Episode 1 of 2

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Lives and loves entwine in Andrea Levy's award-winning story of Jamaicans and Londoners involved in the Second World War.

London 1948: Hortense joins Gilbert, her new husband, in England, where he is lodging with Queenie Bligh. The women have both married in unpromising circumstances as love is a luxury neither can afford. As Hortense remembers her life in Jamaica and the profound love she had for Michael and his betrayal of her, Queenie also remembers her night of passion with the same Michael when her husband was away at war. Initially suspicious of each other, will they uncover the secret they share?

More episodes

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  • Photo: Gilbert in trouble

    Photo: Gilbert in trouble

    Gilbert (David Oyelowo) is involved in a tussle with the military police on the streets of London.

  • Photo: Michael and Queenie

    Photo: Michael and Queenie

    Michael (Ashley Walters) and Queenie (Ruth Wilson) share a tender moment.

Credits

Hortense
Naomie Harris
Queenie
Ruth Wilson
Gilbert
David Oyelowo
Bernard
Benedict Cumberbatch
Michael
Ashley Walters
Narrator
Hugh Quarshie
Arthur
Karl Johnson
Winston
Shaun Parkes
Celia
Nikki Amuka-Bird
Mr Todd
Roger Sloman
Elwood
Everaldo Creary
Mr Philip
Glen Campbell
Aunt Dorothy
Denise Black
Queenie's Mum
Mary Jo Randle
Taxi Driver
Terence Frisch
Miss Jewel
Leonie Forbes
Mrs Ryder
Rachel Pickup
Mr Ryder
Andrew Havill
Pastor
Teddy Price
Pastor's Wife
Avenia Powell
Miss Morgan
Kerstin Pringle
Celia's Mum
Dorothy Cunningham
Doctor
Michael Elwyn
Fulton
Delroy Atkinson
James
Alan Ricketts
Sergeant Baxter
Damien Devaney
Ginger
Laurence Spellman
Kip
Mark David
Calhoon
Eoin Macken
Waitress
Caoimhe McErlean
Cinema Woman
Barbara Adair
American GI
Peter Brooke
Cinema GI
Bentley Kalu
Military Police
Tony Flynn
Director
John Alexander
Producer
Joanna Anderson
Producer
Vicky Licorish
Producer
Grainne Marmion
Writer
Paula Milne
Writer
Sarah Williams

Broadcasts

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