At Home with the Braithwaites

At Home with the Braithwaites
DVDcoverfor Series 3
Genre	Comedy drama
Created by	Sally Wainwright
Written by	Sally Wainwright
Starring	Sarah Churm Peter Davison Keeley Fawcett Amanda Redman Sarah Smart
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No.of series	4
No.of episodes	26(list of episodes)
Production
Running time	48–50 minutes
Production company	Yorkshire Television
Original release
Network	ITV
Release	20 January 2000(2000-01-20)– 9 April 2003(2003-04-09)

At Home with the Braithwaitesis a Britishcomedy-dramatelevision series,created and written bySally Wainwright(except for the final four episodes). The storyline follows asuburbanfamily inLeeds,whose life is turned upside down when the mother of the family wins £38 million on thelottery.It was broadcast onITVand produced byYorkshire Televisionfor 26 episodes, from 20 January 2000 to 9 April 2003.

At the beginning of the first series, each member of the Braithwaite family has an issue. Mother Alison has to decide what to do with the winnings, and when to tell her family; father David is having an affair with Elaine, his secretary; eldest daughter Virginia is on the verge of dropping out ofuniversity;middle daughter Sarah has acrushon her drama teacher; and youngest daughter Charlotte suspects that Alison may be the mystery lottery winner.

Premise

Main article:List of At Home with the Braithwaites episodes

Series	Episodes		Originally aired
			First aired	Last aired
1	6		20 January 2000(2000-01-20)	24 February 2000(2000-02-24)
2	8		4 January 2001(2001-01-04)	22 February 2001(2001-02-22)
3	6		5 March 2002(2002-03-05)	9 April 2002(2002-04-09)
4	6		5 March 2003(2003-03-05)	9 April 2003(2003-04-09)

Series One

In the first series of six episodes Alison decides, for the time being, to not tell her family about the lottery win as she worries it may have a negative effect on them. In an attempt to do something good with the money, she starts acharitywith the help of her good friend, Marion, and anidealisticout-of-workaccountant,Pauline. David begins to regret having started an affair. Virginia falls in love with their new next door neighbour, the selfish and manipulative Megan. A group ofjournalistsattempt to track down and reveal the identity of the mystery lottery winner. Sarah has her advances toward her drama teacher rejected, and she reacts by sleeping with Phil, the boy next door, and becomes pregnant. By the end of the series, the truth comes out regarding Alison's lottery win and David's affair.

Series Two

In the second series of eight episodes, the Braithwaites have moved into amansionin thecountryside.Alison and David struggle to rebuild their marriage and end up separating. Alison then has a romance with David's brother, Graham, much to David's dismay, until she realises that Graham is still seeing his wife. Sarah gives birth to a son and secretly marries Phil. Charlotte starts gettingbulliedat school because of her family's newfound wealth. Virginia is going out with Tamsin, a kind and sensible girl, but is still obsessed with Megan. By the end of the series, Alison and David decide to give their marriage another go.

Series Three

In the third series of six episodes, Alison is awarded a damehood by the Queen for her charity work, and discovers that she is pregnant with Graham's baby. David suggests that they pretend he is the father, until it comes out that Graham actually is. Tamsin is also pregnant, as the result of aone night standwith a guy from university. She and Virginia decide to raise the child together, until Tamsin realises that Virginia is still infatuated with Megan. A newspaper prints a story saying that it was 12-year-old Charlotte who purchased the winning lottery ticket, and the lottery company take the family tocourt,claiming back all £38 million as it was illegal for an under-16 to enter the lottery. A heavily pregnant Alison cracks and confesses during the trial, forcing the Braithwaites back to their old home and their old lives. Sarah starts seeing a married teacher. By the end of the series, Alison gives birth to a baby girl, Katherine 'Kate/Katie', and the family manage to retrieve their fortune following alegal technicalityand a retrial.

Series Four

In the fourth and final series of six episodes, Alison and David start divorce proceedings. Alison has a romance with her gardener, Nick. David starts seeing Elaine again. Sarah quitscollege,and starts a business as awedding planner.She also discovers that Phil, the father of her child, still has feelings for her. Charlotte starts going out with Jordan, Elaine's son, and the pair hatch a plan to get rid of the lottery winnings that Charlotte believes has caused all of the problems within her family. Virginia has finally to choose between Tamsin, who now has a baby girl, Rowena, and Megan. Disapproving of her recent actions, Virginia, Sarah, and Charlotte all struggle to get along with Alison. The final scene of the series sees the whole family, and their friends, arguing with each other, as Charlotte announces that she thinks she might be pregnant.

Sally Wainwright wrote the first two episodes of this series whileJonathan Harveywrote the next two with the final episodes written by Katie Baxendale.

Cast

• Amanda Redmanas Alison Braithwaite
• Peter Davisonas David Braithwaite
• Sarah Smartas Virginia Braithwaite
• Sarah Churmas Sarah Braithwaite
• Keeley Fawcett as Charlotte Braithwaite
• Julie Grahamas Megan Hartnoll
• Kevin Doyleas Mike Hartnoll
• Lynda Bellinghamas Pauline Farnell
• Sylvia Symsas Marion Riley
• Judy Holtas Elaine Fishwick
• Lucy Whelan as Tamsin
• Hazel Douglasas Audrey Crowther
• Damian Zuk as Phil Skidmore
• Ishia Bennisonas Denise Skidmore
• Emily Glenister as Emily Braithwaite (Series 1 and 2)
• Garry Cooperas Colin Skidmore (Series 1, 2 and 3)
• Ray Stevensonas Graham Braithwaite (Series 2 and 3)
• Elizabeth Rideras Helen Braithwaite (Series 2 and 3)
• Olive Pendleton as Hilda Braithwaite (Series 2 and 3)
• Adam & Jamie Harrison as Baby William (Series 3)
• Alun Raglan as Daniel Wolfenden (Series 3)
• Amelia Curtisas Beth Wolfenden (Series 3)
• Adam Rayneras Nick Bottomley (Series 4)
• Scott Cooper as Jordan Fishwick (Series 4)
• Rachel Leskovacas Ciara Pickering (Series 4)

Characters

Dame Alison Jane Braithwaite DBE

Alison is the matriarch of the family. She is upstanding and unselfish. She cares for her family; however, through her deception, she often hurts them. After winning the lottery, she adopts a newDynasty-resembling look; however, her taste "leaves a lot to be desired" as one character puts it. She has extramarital affairs with her brother-in-law and even her gardener, who is 20 years her junior.

David Braithwaite

David is thepatriarchof the family. He is not as close to his children as Alison, and has a stormy relationship with eldest daughter Virginia; however, she is the only one he ever confides in. He has been having an affair for some time with his PA. He loathes his younger brother, Graham, who has an affair with Alison.

Virginia Rowena Braithwaite

Virginia is the eldest daughter. She is wanton, feckless and usually entirely selfish. She is closest to her mother, but has the confidences of both her parents. She is an openlesbianand has an ongoing relationship with Tamsin and an on-off affair with Megan. She works as a mechanic occasionally and studies at theUniversity of York.She is described by sister Sarah as being her 'chain-smoking, screwed-up dyke of a sister'.

Sarah Elizabeth Braithwaite

The middle daughter, Sarah is immature, needy and promiscuous. She becomes pregnant by a neighbour in series one, marries and divorces him in series two, and has an affair with a teacher in her sixth form in series three. She is often the only daughter not to know family secrets, as one parent usually entrusts Virginia with the truth, while Charlotte's investigative nature usually uncovers it.

Charlotte Braithwaite

Charlotte is the youngest daughter. Still in her teenage years, she is a gawky loner. She is a quiet child and usually finds out secrets through her inquisitive nature. She is occasionally capable of sociopathic behaviour.

Megan Hartnoll

Megan is originally a neighbour of the Braithwaites and lives with husband Mike. She is spiteful, manipulative and a constant threat to the happiness of the Braithwaites, especially Virginia, with whom she has an affair. She iselectrocutedin the fourth series.

Mike Hartnoll

Mike is the husband of Megan and is strongly attracted to Alison. While Alison feels sorry for him because of his loneliness, the rest of the family find him an annoyance. He is self-pitying, self-righteous, self-indulged and prone to making long drunken diatribes. As David describes him, he is the sort of man whom you invite to a party in the hope he cannot come.

Graham Braithwaite

Graham is David's brother. After Alison and David split, he lies to Alison telling her he's separated, and the two begin an affair. When she finds out it's adulterous, she leaves him, but he refuses to leave her alone and his behaviour becomes obsessive. Alison falls pregnant with his baby, and she and David try to pass the baby off as theirs. Graham, however, finds out. He is devious, calculating and manipulative, yet intelligent and articulate, which enables him to deceive others easily.

Overseas

The series was shown onABCandUK.TVin Australia;TV3in Ireland;TV OneandPrimein New Zealand;NRKin Norway;RTV Slovenijain Slovenia;BBC Americain the United States;TVB Pearlin Hong Kong;YLEin Finland; andYes Plusin Israel.

Reception

Ratings

Episode viewing figures fromBARB.

Series	Timeslot	Episodes	First aired		Last aired		Rank	Avg. viewers (millions)
			Date	Viewers (millions)	Date	Viewers (millions)
1	Thursday 9:00 pm	6	20 January 2000	9.45	24 February 2000	9.29	17	8.72
2		8	4 January 2001	8.08	22 February 2001	9.17	21	8.49
3	Tuesday 9:00 pm	6	5 March 2002	7.34	9 April 2002	7.73	15	7.28
4	Wednesday 9:00 pm	6	5 March 2003	8.29	9 April 2003	7.01	19	7.10

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominee	Result	Ref!
2000	TV Quick Awards	Best New Drama	At Home with the Braithwaites	Won
2001	BAFTA TV Awards	Best Actress	Amanda Redman	Nominated
	RTS Awards	Best Drama Series	At Home with the Braithwaites	Nominated
2002	BAFTA TV Awards	Best Drama Series	Carolyn Reynolds, Jacky Stoller, Sally Wainwright	Nominated
	International Emmy Awards	Best Drama Series	At Home with the Braithwaites (episodes 1 & 6)	Nominated
	RTS Awards	Best Writer	Sally Wainwright	Nominated
		Best Drama Series	At Home with the Braithwaites	Nominated
2003	British Comedy Awards	Best TV Comedy Drama	At Home with the Braithwaites	Nominated
	National Television Awards	Most Popular Actress	Amanda Redman	Nominated
2004	RTS Awards	Best Drama Series	At Home with the Braithwaites	Nominated

Home media

VHS release

The complete first series ofAt Home with the Braithwaiteswas released on VHS in the UK on 2 February 2001 from2Entertain.

DVD releases

The entire series is available on DVD on Region 2 in the UK, both in individual sets and a complete boxset from distribution company, Network. The first two series have been released on Region 1 DVD in the United States and Canada viaAcorn DVD.The entire series is also available on Region 4 in Australia and New Zealand throughShock Records.The third and fourth series on Region 4 DVDs are missing segments from episodes, whereas the Region 2 sets are complete and uncut. All four series were re-released individually on Region 4 viaRoadshow Entertainment.

Title	Release date			Features
	Region 1	Region 2	Region 4
The Complete First Series	24 August 2004	8 April 2003	3 February 2007	6 episodes 2 discs 4:3 aspect ratio English: Dolby Digital 2.0 BBFCrating: 15 ACBrating: M Special features:cast filmographies & photo gallery (Region 1 only) (No subtitles)
The Complete Second Series	15 February 2005	24 July 2006	5 May 2007	8 episodes 2 discs (Region 2 & 4) 3 disc (Region 1) 16:9 aspect ratio English: Dolby Digital 2.0 BBFCrating: 15 ACBrating: M Special features:cast filmographies & photo gallery (Region 1 only) (No subtitles)
The Complete Third Series	—	31 March 2008	2 July 2007	6 episodes 2 discs 16:9 aspect ratio (Region 2) 4:3 aspect ratio (Region 4) English: Dolby Digital 2.0 BBFCrating: 15 ACBrating: M (No subtitles) (No special features)
The Complete Fourth Series	—	27 October 2008	1 September 2007	6 episodes 2 discs 16:9 aspect ratio (Region 2) 4:3 aspect ratio (Region 4) English: Dolby Digital 2.0 BBFCrating: 15 ACBrating: M (No subtitles) (No special features)
The Complete Series	—	27 October 2008	1 December 2007	26 episodes 8 discs 4:3 & 16:9 aspect ratio (Region 2) 4:3 aspect ratio (Region 4) English: Dolby Digital 2.0 BBFCrating: 15 ACBrating: M (No subtitles) (No special features)
Rereleased sets
Series 1	—	—	30 January 2013	6 episodes 2 discs 4:3 aspect ratio English: Dolby Digital 2.0 ACBrating: M (No subtitles) (No special features)
Series 2	—	—	30 January 2013	8 episodes 2 discs 16:9 aspect ratio English: Dolby Digital 2.0 ACBrating: M (No subtitles) (No special features)
Series 3	—	—	4 September 2013	6 episodes 2 discs 16:9 aspect ratio English: Dolby Digital 2.0 ACBrating: M (No subtitles) (No special features)
Series 4	—	—	4 September 2013	6 episodes 2 discs 16:9 aspect ratio English: Dolby Digital 2.0 ACBrating: M (No subtitles) (No special features)
The Complete Series	—	6 April 2020	—	(See original complete series box for features)

External links

• At Home with the BraithwaitesatIMDb
• At Home with the Braithwaitesatepguides.com
• At Home with the BraithwaitesatBritish Comedy Guide