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Oranges and Sunshine

The story of Margaret Humphreys, a social worker from Nottingham who, in 1986, uncovered one of the most significant social scandals of recent times.

The story of Margaret Humphreys, a social worker from Nottingham who, in 1986, uncovered one of the most significant social scandals of recent times - the deportation of thousands of children in care from the United Kingdom to Australia.

Almost single-handedly, against overwhelming odds and with little regard for her own well-being, Margaret reunited thousands of families, brought authorities to account and drew worldwide attention to an extraordinary miscarriage of justice.

Children as young as four had been told that their parents were dead and were sent to children's homes on the other side of the world. They were promised oranges and sunshine, but what they got instead was hard labour and life in institutions.

Compelling drama from BBC Films.

1 hour, 38 minutes

Last on

Mon 13 Dec 202100:50
BBC One except Scotland & Scotland HD

Music Played

  • Cat Stevens

    Wild World

Credits

Margaret HumphreysEmily Watson
JackHugo Weaving
LenDavid Wenham
MervRichard Dillane
PaulineTara Morice
BillStuart Wolfenden
RachelMolly Windsor
JamesNeil Pigot
BobGreg Stone
CharlotteFederay Holmes
DirectorJim Loach
ProducerEmile Sherman
ProducerCamilla Bray
ProducerIain Canning
WriterRona Munro

Broadcasts

  • Sat 12 Jan 201321:45
    BBC Two
  • Wed 11 Dec 201323:35
    BBC One except Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland HD, Scotland & Wales
  • Thu 12 Dec 201300:05
    BBC One Northern Ireland HD, Wales HD, Northern Ireland & Wales only
  • Thu 12 Dec 201300:35
    BBC One Scotland HD & Scotland only
  • Sat 16 Aug 201423:00
    BBC Two
  • Wed 18 Nov 201523:40
    BBC One except Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland HD, Scotland & Wales
  • Thu 19 Nov 201500:10
    BBC One Northern Ireland HD, Wales HD, Northern Ireland & Wales only
  • Thu 19 Nov 201500:40
    BBC One Scotland HD & Scotland only
  • Sun 8 Oct 201723:30
    BBC Two except Northern Ireland & Wales
  • Mon 9 Oct 201700:00
    BBC Two Wales
  • Mon 3 Jun 201900:00
    BBC One except Scotland
  • Mon 3 Jun 201901:00
    BBC One Scotland & Scotland HD only
  • Fri 1 May 202023:20
    BBC Two except Scotland
  • Mon 13 Dec 202100:50
    BBC One except Scotland

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