The Midwich Cuckoos (TV series)

Last updated

The Midwich Cuckoos
Genre
Created by David Farr
Based on The Midwich Cuckoos
by John Wyndham
Starring Keeley Hawes
Composer Hannah Peel
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes7
Production
Executive producers
  • Neil Blair
  • Robert Cheek
  • David Farr
  • Ruth Kenley-Letts
  • Marc Samuelson
  • Rick Senat
  • Alice Troughton
ProducerPat Karam
Running time60 minutes (except first episode: 75 minutes) including adverts.
Production companiesSnowed-In Productions
DayOut Productions
Route 24
Original release
Network Sky Max
Release2 June 2022 (2022-06-02)

The Midwich Cuckoos is a British science fiction television series on Sky Max, created by David Farr. [1] [2] It is based on the 1957 book of the same name by John Wyndham. It stars Keeley Hawes and Max Beesley. It began airing on 2 June 2022, [3] and all episodes became available on Sky On Demand. In Australia, the entire series is available on Stan. [4]

Contents

Synopsis

An unexplained blackout renders all inhabitants of the English village Midwich unconscious for 24 hours, referred to as the "dayout". Upon awakening it soon becomes apparent that all child-bearing aged women are now pregnant. The women all give birth on the same day to healthy babies which grow and develop much faster than "normal" children. The Children bear a resemblance to their mothers, but are both male and female. The government, led by Major Westcott, pays a subsidy to the Children's parents and both educates and monitors them from "The Grange" facility in the village. Dr Zellaby, a villager who was away on the dayout so did not fall pregnant, becomes a primary carer on the staff and suspects that the Children are of alien origin. She shares her concerns with DCI Haynes, the local Police liaison for the village.

Several years pass, and the quickly-developing Children become aloof and with the exception of one child - Nathan - have an emotional detachment from the other villagers, including their parents. The Children develop telekinetic abilities, which they use to get their own way, forcing their parents to act against their wills, self-harming and killing themselves in two cases. Major Westcott reveals himself to be an adult Child, the sole survivor from a Russian village 30 years ago that had a dayout, but was bombed by Russian authorities out of fear of the developing Children. Under Westcott's guidance the Children subvert a nearby military base and use the soldiers to organise safe passage out of the village. The Children use their mental powers to force all the villagers to forget the Children exist, but Nathan warns his parents, Zellaby and Haynes who take cover underground and are unaffected by the amnesia wave. The Children remove Nathan from their group mind, leaving him in the village and allowing him and Cassie to run away. They then depart on a bus guarded by the military, and with Zellaby as a willing hostage to ensure safe passage. Unknown to all, Haynes had taken the place of one of the soldiers and overnight hidden an explosive device on the bus. He tries to persuade Zellaby to leave, but she refuses knowing that if she does so the Children will become suspicious. Reluctantly he detonates the bomb killing all those on board - Zellaby and the Children, but Westcott in a support vehicle survives, looking on in horror. Nathan and Cassie watch the explosion from the woods before walking away.

Cast

Main

Recurring

  • Rebekah Staton as Mary-Ann Phillips
  • Mark Dexter as Stewart McLean
  • Marianne Oldham as Jane Colter
  • Jade Harrison as Deborah Haynes
  • Amy Cudden as Sarah McLean
  • Hannah Tointon as Rachel Saunders
  • Lewis Reeves as Curtis Saunders
  • Anneika Rose as Amrita Chohhan
  • India Ria Amarteifio as Nora Randall
  • Cherrelle Skeete as Bryony Cummings
  • Darcie Smith and Amelie Bea Smith as Charlotte McLean
  • Aditi Pothuganti and Jiyan Kaur Deol as Sunny Chohhan
  • Jude Ible-Thompson and as Nathan Blake
  • Erin Ainsworth and Natalia Harris as Lily-Grace Phillips
  • Billie Gadsdon and Indica Watson as Evie Stone
  • Kaylen Luke as Ezra
  • Scarlett Leigh and Georgia Thorne as Hannah Moran
  • Jimmy Bone and Jude Muir as Joe Saunders
  • Dexter Ansell as David Saunders
  • Evan Scott and Marshall Hawkes as Connor Colter
  • Alex Brock as John Lancaster
  • Kimara-Mai Petit and Kimia Lamour as Olive Randall

Episodes

No.EpisodeDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateUK viewers
(millions)
1Bad Things Alice Troughton David Farr2 June 2022 (2022-06-02)1.50
2In This Together Alice Troughton David Farr2 June 2022 (2022-06-02)N/A
3The HiveJennifer PerrottDavid Farr and Sasha Hails2 June 2022 (2022-06-02)N/A
4Hide and SeekJennifer PerrottDavid Farr and Laura Lomas2 June 2022 (2022-06-02)N/A
5Why Are You Lying?Jennifer PerrottDavid Farr and Namsi Khan2 June 2022 (2022-06-02)N/A
6Not An Ice CreamBörkur SigþórssonDavid Farr2 June 2022 (2022-06-02)N/A
7DepartureBörkur SigþórssonDavid Farr2 June 2022 (2022-06-02)N/A

Reception

The series received mixed reviews. Lucy Mangan of The Guardian gave the first episode two out of five stars, feeling it did not make the most of its adaptational changes and topicality, with its emphasis on the perspective of female characters. [6] Nick Hilton of The Independent also gave it two out of five stars, deeming it 'humourless' and criticizing the production. [7] By contrast, Mark Kermode on Kermode and Mayo's Take praised the series' tone, use of horror and performances, saying it was a successful update of the novel. [8] Carol Midgley of The Times also gave it four stars, praising the atmospheric direction and Farr's scripts. [9]
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 71% based on 14 reviews. The website's critics consensus reads: "This adaptation of John Wyndham's classic novel is often cuckoo in an off-putting way and overstays its welcome with a bloated runtime, but it holds some diabolical delights for viewers who enjoy a science-fiction nightmare." [10]

Hannah Peel's original soundtrack for The Midwich Cuckoos won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Television Soundtrack at The Ivors in London on 18 May 2023. [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Wyndham</span> English science fiction writer (1903–1969)

John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris was an English science fiction writer best known for his works published under the pen name John Wyndham, although he also used other combinations of his names, such as John Beynon and Lucas Parkes. Some of his works were set in post-apocalyptic landscapes. His best known works include The Day of the Triffids (1951), filmed in 1962, and The Midwich Cuckoos (1957), which was filmed in 1960 as Village of the Damned, in 1995 under the same title, and again in 2022 in Sky Max under its original title.

<i>Dragon Tales</i> American-Canadian childrens animated series

Dragon Tales is an animated educational fantasy children's television series created by Jim Coane and Ron Rodecker, developed by Coane, Wesley Eure, Jeffrey Scott, Cliff Ruby and Elana Lesser, and produced by the Children's Television Workshop, Columbia TriStar Television and Adelaide Productions. The series focuses on the adventures of two siblings, Emmy and Max, and their dragon friends Ord, Cassie, Zak, Wheezie, and Quetzal.

<i>The Midwich Cuckoos</i> 1957 science fiction novel by John Wyndham

The Midwich Cuckoos is a 1957 science fiction novel written by the English author John Wyndham. It tells the tale of an English village in which the women become pregnant by brood parasitic aliens. The book has been praised by many critics, including the dramatist Dan Rebellato, who called it "a searching novel of moral ambiguities," and the novelist Margaret Atwood, who called the book Wyndham's "chef d'oeuvre." The book has been adapted into several media, such as film, radio, and a TV series (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keeley Hawes</span> English actress (born 1976)

Clare JuliaHawes, known professionally as Keeley Hawes, is an English actress. After beginning her career in a number of literary adaptations, including Our Mutual Friend (1998) and Tipping the Velvet (2002), Hawes rose to fame for her portrayal of Zoe Reynolds in the BBC series Spooks (2002–2004), followed by her co-lead performance as DI Alex Drake in Ashes to Ashes (2008–2010). She is also known for her roles in Jed Mercurio's Line of Duty as DI Lindsay Denton (2014–2016) and in BBC One drama Bodyguard (2018) in which she played Home Secretary Julia Montague. Hawes is a three-time BAFTA TV Award nominee, having been nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Actress for her roles as Lindsay Denton and Julia Montague, and a British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Dorothy Wick in the drama Mrs Wilson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew Macfadyen</span> English actor (born 1974)

David Matthew Macfadyen is an English actor. Known for his performances on stage and screen, he gained prominence for his role as Mr. Darcy in Joe Wright's Pride & Prejudice (2005). He rose to international fame for his role as Tom Wambsgans in the HBO drama series Succession (2018–2023), for which he received two consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award.

<i>Village of the Damned</i> (1960 film) 1960 film by Wolf Rilla

Village of the Damned is a 1960 British science fiction horror film by Anglo-German director Wolf Rilla. The film is adapted from the novel The Midwich Cuckoos (1957) by John Wyndham. The lead role of Professor Gordon Zellaby was played by George Sanders.

<i>Village of the Damned</i> (1995 film) 1995 American film

Village of the Damned is a 1995 American science fiction-horror film directed by John Carpenter, written by David Himmelstein, and starring Christopher Reeve, Linda Kozlowski, Kirstie Alley, Michael Paré, Mark Hamill, and Meredith Salenger. It is a remake of the 1960 film of the same name, itself based on the 1957 novel The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham. The 1995 version is set in Northern California, whereas the book and original film are both set in the United Kingdom. The 1995 film was marketed with the tagline, "Beware the Children".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbara Shelley</span> British actress (1932–2021)

Barbara Shelley was an English film and television actress. She appeared in more than a hundred films and television series. She was particularly known for her work in horror films, notably Village of the Damned; Dracula, Prince of Darkness; Rasputin, the Mad Monk and Quatermass and the Pit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philip Glenister</span> British actor (born 1963)

Philip Haywood Glenister is an English actor. He is known for his role as DCI Gene Hunt in the BBC series Life on Mars (2006–2007) and its sequel Ashes to Ashes (2008–2010). He also played DCI William Bell in State of Play (2003) and Reverend Anderson in Outcast (2016–2018).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Max Beesley</span> British actor and musician

Maxton Gig Beesley Jr. is an English actor and musician. His television and film credits include The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling (1997), The Match (1999), Hotel (2001), Kill Me Later (2001), The Last Minute (2001), Bodies (2004-2006), The Last Enemy (2008), Survivors (2008–2010), Mad Dogs (2011-2013), Suits (2013), Empire (2015-2016), Ordinary Lies (2015), Jamestown (2017-2019), The Outsider (2020), Operation Fortune (2022), The Midwich Cuckoos (2022), and Hijack (2023). In 2024, he starred as boxing promoter Henry Collins in Guy Ritchie's The Gentleman (2024).

Hannah Tointon is an English actress. She is best known for playing Katy Fox in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks and Tara Brown in sitcom The Inbetweeners.

<i>Ashes to Ashes</i> (British TV series) British television fastasy drama series (2008–2010)

Ashes to Ashes is a British fantasy crime drama and police procedural drama television series, serving as the sequel to Life on Mars.

Alice Troughton is a British film and television director known for her work on Merlin, Doctor Who and its spin-offs Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures. In 2023, she made her feature film debut with The Lesson.

Left Bank Pictures Ltd. is a British film and television production company owned by Sony Pictures Television. It was formed in 2007 and was the first British media company to receive investment from BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aisling Loftus</span> English actress

Aisling Sinead Katie Loftus is a British actress. She began her career as a child actress and first gained prominence through her roles in the BBC dramas Five Daughters (2010) and Dive (2010), the play Spur of the Moment, and the film Death of a Superhero (2011).

David Farr is a British writer, theatrical director and Associate Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

<i>Agatha Raisin</i> (TV series) British comedy-drama television program

Agatha Raisin is a British comedy-drama television series, based on M. C. Beaton's book series of the same name about a former PR agent who solves crime mysteries in the Cotswolds village of Carsely.

<i>Unforgotten</i> British crime drama series (2015–)

Unforgotten is a British crime drama television series, which initially aired on ITV on 8 October 2015. It was created and written by Chris Lang and directed by Andy Wilson. The programme follows a team of London detectives led by DCI Cassie Stuart, DCI Jessie James and DI Sunny Khan as they solve cold cases of disappearance and murder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indica Watson</span> English actress (born 2010)

Indica Elizabeth Watson is an English actress. She is best known for her work in television series The Missing, Sherlock, The Midwich Cuckoos and Who Is Erin Carter? and feature films Radioactive, A Boy Called Christmas and The Electrical Life of Louis Wain.

<i>Its a Sin</i> (TV series) British television series by Russell T Davies

It's a Sin is a British drama television miniseries written by Russell T Davies. Set in London between 1981 and 1991, it depicts the lives of a group of gay men and their friends during the HIV/AIDS crisis in the United Kingdom. It's a Sin features a main cast consisting of Olly Alexander, Omari Douglas, Callum Scott Howells, Lydia West, and Nathaniel Curtis. Other actors cast were David Carlyle, Keeley Hawes, Shaun Dooley, Tracy Ann Oberman, Neil Patrick Harris and Stephen Fry. The series was directed by Peter Hoar, produced by Red Production Company, and premiered in the United Kingdom on Channel 4 on 22 January 2021.

References

  1. ↑ "Keeley Hawes & Max Beesley To Star In Sky One's 'The Midwich Cuckoos'". TVWise. 29 April 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-04-29. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
  2. ↑ "Sky reveals first look trailer and image for Sky Original drama the Midwich Cuckoos starring Keeley Hawes". Skygroup.sky.
  3. ↑ "The Midwich Cuckoos: Release date, cast, trailer and latest news for Keeley Hawes drama". Radio Times. 20 May 2022.
  4. ↑ "Exclusive: The Midwich Cuckoos star Keeley Hawes on her 'relatable' role in new Stan sci-fi series". Nine.Com. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
  5. ↑ Mellor, Louisa (2022-06-07). "How The Midwich Cuckoos Ending Twist Sets Up Season 2". Den of Geek. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  6. ↑ "The Midwich Cuckoos review – women's rights are under attack, and this is what they make?". The Guardian. 2 June 2022.
  7. ↑ "The Midwich Cuckoos is a bland, faithless reimagining of the sci-fi novel – review". The Independent. 2 June 2022.
  8. ↑ Mark Kermode reviews The Midwich Cuckoos – Kermode and Mayo's Take – via YouTube.
  9. ↑ "The Midwich Cuckoos review — one freaky return to the Village of the Damned". The Times. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
  10. ↑ "The Midwich Cuckoos". Rotten Tomatoes. 14 September 2023.
  11. ↑ Ophelia, Maya (2023-05-18). "Winners of The Ivors 2023 announced". The Ivors Academy. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.