Down to Earth (2000 TV series)

British television drama series (2000–2005)

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Down to Earth

Created by| Ashley Pharoah
Starring| Warren Clarke
Pauline Quirke
Ellie Beaven
Toby Ross-Bryant
Alexandra Stone
Angela Griffin
Ian Kelsey
Inga Brooksby
Thomas Byrne
Charlotte Redpath
Ricky Tomlinson
Denise Welch
Zara Dawson
Shelley Conn
Elizabeth Bennett
Ram John Holder
Finn Atkins
Robert James-Collier
Marc Ryan-Jordan
Country of origin| United Kingdom
Original language| English
No. of series| 5
No. of episodes| 40
Production
Running time| approx. 60 mins
Original release
Network| BBC One
Release| 28 August 2000 (2000-08-28) –
6 March 2005 (2005-03-06)

Down to Earth was a BBC One television drama series first broadcast in 2000 about a couple who start a new life on a Devon farm. The early episodes of the series were based on a series of books written by Faith Addis about their real-life move from London to Devon.

The music in the series was composed by Sheridan Tongue and Tony Hadley, and had the song "After All this Time" as its opening and closing credits in series 2 and 3.

## Plot

[edit]

The first series starred Pauline Quirke as Faith Addis, a teacher, and Warren Clarke as her long-suffering husband, Brian, as they encountered various misfortunes and difficulties in adjusting to their new rural lifestyle, which was not helped by their uncooperative children's attitude to moving to a new location. The series was generally light in tone, although took a tragic turn following Brian's death in a road accident in series three.

In 2003, the Addis family left the farm for good. They were replaced by the Brewer family. Matt Brewer (Ian Kelsey) was Brian's cousin. He left the big city with his young new wife, Frankie (Angela Griffin), and his three children from his first marriage to move to Devon to take over the farm.

Two years later the Brewer family moved back to the city and were replaced by Jackie (Denise Welch), Tony Murphy (Ricky Tomlinson) and their wayward daughter, Emma (Zara Dawson), who owned the local pub. The fifth and final series was broadcast from 2 January 2005 to 6 March 2005.

## Cast

[edit]

* Pauline Quirke as Faith Addis
* Warren Clarke as Brian Addis
* Toby Ross-Bryant as Marcus Addis
* Ellie Beaven as Sarah Addis
* Alexandra Stone as Molly Addis
* Katy Reeves as Celeste Addis
* Pat Keen as Addy Addis (mother-in-law)
* Rowena Cooper as Mac
* Ian Kelsey as Matt Brewer
* Angela Griffin as Frankie Brewer
* Ram John Holder as Wilson Steadman
* Elizabeth Bennett as Daphne Brewer
* Inga Brooksby as Becky Brewer
* Charlotte Redpath as Lucy Brewer
* Finn Atkins as Kate Cooper
* Thomas Byrne as Sam Brewer
* Denise Welch as Jackie Murphy
* Zara Dawson as Emma Murphy
* Liam Hess as Jake Smith
* Shelley Conn as Kerry Jamil
* Ricky Tomlinson as Tony Murphy
* Jason West as Adam / Mose
* Sally Watts as Laura Carter
* Robert James-Collier as Nick Christy
* Marc Ryan-Jordan as Ryan Cooper

## Episodes

[edit]

Series| Episodes| Originally aired

|
|

First aired| Last aired
1| 6| 28 August 2000 (2000-08-28)| 1 October 2000 (2000-10-01)
2| 8| 2 September 2001 (2001-09-02)| 21 October 2001 (2001-10-21)
3| 8| 2 February 2003 (2003-02-02)| 23 March 2003 (2003-03-23)
4| 8| 4 January 2004 (2004-01-04)| 22 February 2004 (2004-02-22)
5| 10| 2 January 2005 (2005-01-02)| 6 March 2005 (2005-03-06)

### Series 1 (2000)

[edit]

No.
overall| No. in
series| Title| Directed by| Written by| Original air date| UK viewers
(millions) [1]

|
|
|
|
|
|

1| 1| "The Great Escape"| Ashley Pearce| Ashley Pharoah| 28 August 2000 (2000-08-28)| 9.98

Life on the farm is more than the Addises can handle.

2| 2| "In at the Deep End"| Ashley Pearce| Helen Slavin| 3 September 2000 (2000-09-03)| 7.87

Faith has cow-milking troubles; Brian's excited about an upcoming bankruptcy sale; Sarah makes a new friend.

3| 3| "O Best Beloved…"| Ashley Pearce| Helen Slavin| 10 September 2000 (2000-09-10)| 7.15

Sarah's surprise visit to London leaves Andrew bewildered; Molly's archenemy attacks her with a pair of scissors; Marcus rescues Annie and her puppies from an old shed about to collapse.

4| 4| "Do As You Would Be Do Be By"| Ashley Pearce| Helen Slavin| 17 September 2000 (2000-09-17)| 7.20

Faith secretly takes a job as a supply teacher to help her family make ends meet; Sarah meets a boy at a local dance.

5| 5| "Kingdom for a Horse"| Ashley Pearce| Helen Slavin| 24 September 2000 (2000-09-24)| 8.01

A thief sets his sights on area farms and smallholdings; Marcus learns the identity of the thief attempting to steal Bill's tractor.

6| 6| "A Field of Dreams"| Ashley Pearce| Ashley Pharoah| 1 October 2000 (2000-10-01)| 7.93

The bank nags Brian for a payment just as he prepares to take his crop of blooming flowers to market.

### Series 2 (2001)

[edit]

No.
overall| No. in
series| Title| Directed by| Written by| Original air date| UK viewers
(millions) [1]

|
|
|
|
|
|

7| 1| "Great Expectations"| Juliet May| Ashley Pharoah| 2 September 2001 (2001-09-02)| 7.18

Faith and Brian open their home to children for the holidays, but get more than they expected.

8| 2| "Wild Life"| Juliet May| Helen Slavin| 9 September 2001 (2001-09-09)| 7.19

Faith and Addy host another batch of needy children and find them to be more trouble than the first ones.

9| 3| "A Time To Live"| Juliet May| Suzie Smith| 16 September 2001 (2001-09-16)| 7.51

Brian and Faith take up organic gardening.

10| 4| "Rites and Wrongs"| Indra Bhose| Georgia Pritchett| 23 September 2001 (2001-09-23)| 7.58

Faith's parents care for the farm while the family goes to London for a funeral.

11| 5| "The Final Straw"| Indra Bhose| Suzie Smith| 30 September 2001 (2001-09-30)| 8.86

A family friend is forced to sell his farm; Sarah has changed since her trip to Africa.

12| 6| "Home Truths"| Indra Bhose| Ashley Pharoah| 7 October 2001 (2001-10-07)| 7.61

Brian and Faith decide they can afford a better home, but their kids object to moving.

13| 7| "The Lie of the Land"| Claire Windyard| Helen Slavin| 14 October 2001 (2001-10-14)| 7.28

Brian and Faith move into their new home; Faith leaves to care for her sick father.

14| 8| "Gone But Not Forgotten"| Claire Windyard| Georgia Pritchett| 21 October 2001 (2001-10-21)| 7.15

Sarah is surprised by a visiting friend from Ghana. Marcus realizes he's in love with Celeste and tries to win her back.

### Series 3 (2003)

[edit]

No.
overall| No. in
series| Title| Directed by| Written by| Original air date| UK viewers
(millions) [1]

|
|
|
|
|
|

15| 1| "All Together Now"| Juliet May| Ashley Pharoah| 2 February 2003 (2003-02-02)| 8.04

Faith is busy planning a family wedding.

16| 2| "Faith"| Juliet May| Simon Sharkey| 9 February 2003 (2003-02-09)| 8.12

Faith learns some devastating news about Brian.

17| 3| "The Last Dance"| Frank W. Smith| David Joss Buckley| 16 February 2003 (2003-02-16)| 7.28

Faith tries to put on a brave face at Brian's funeral.

18| 4| "Moving On"| Frank W. Smith| Alan Whiting| 23 February 2003 (2003-02-23)| 7.81

Without Brian, the business is struggling and Faith reluctantly decides to sell Silverdale.

19| 5| "Cat on a Bonfire"| Michael Cocker| James Wood| 2 March 2003 (2003-03-02)| 8.01

New tenant Matt becomes lost in the countryside.

20| 6| "The Poseidon Effect"| Michael Cocker| Leslie Stewart| 9 March 2003 (2003-03-09)| 6.68

Matt is asked to use more than his gardening skills to promote his new business.

21| 7| "Honesty"[2]| Rob Evans| Suzie Smith| 16 March 2003 (2003-03-16)| 6.39

A nosey neighbour brings troubles for Frankie.

22| 8| "High Hopes"| Rob Evans| David Joss Buckley| 23 March 2003 (2003-03-23)| 6.34

The Brewers need to expand their business.

### Series 4 (2004)

[edit]

No.
overall| No. in
series| Title| Directed by| Written by| Original air date| UK viewers
(millions) [1]

|
|
|
|
|
|

23| 1| "Still Waters"| Simon Meyers| Peter Gibbs| 4 January 2004 (2004-01-04)| 7.48
24| 2| "Seeing is Believing"| Simon Meyers| Jane Hollowood| 11 January 2004 (2004-01-11)| 7.13
25| 3| "Fate and Fortune"| Simon Meyers| Susan Wilkins| 18 January 2004 (2004-01-18)| 7.12
26| 4| "Can’t Buy You Love"| Simon Meyers| Joe Fraser| 25 January 2004 (2004-01-25)| 7.27
27| 5| "Family Ties"| Simon Massey| Susan Watkins| 1 February 2004 (2004-02-01)| 7.17
28| 6| "Best Laid Plans"| Simon Massey| Stuart Morris| 8 February 2004 (2004-02-08)| 6.84
29| 7| "First Love"| Dominic Keavey| Peter Gibbs| 15 February 2004 (2004-02-15)| 7.03
30| 8| "Unfinished Business"| Doninic Keavey| Peter Gibbs| 22 February 2004 (2004-02-22)| 6.75

### Series 5 (2005)

[edit]

No.
overall| No. in
series| Title| Directed by| Written by| Original air date| UK viewers
(millions) [1]

|
|
|
|
|
|

31| 1| "Sisterly Feelings"| Dominic Keavey| Peter Gibbs| 2 January 2005 (2005-01-02)| 5.59
32| 2| "Cowboys"| Doninic Keavey| Stuart Morris| 9 January 2005 (2005-01-09)| 5.57
33| 3| "Ignorance Is Bliss"| Terry Iland| Jane Hollowood| 16 January 2005 (2005-01-16)| 5.40
34| 4| "Dangerous Liaisons"| Terry Iland| Susan Watkins| 23 January 2005 (2005-01-23)| 5.48
35| 5| "Changes"| Paul Kousoulides| Susan Oudot| 30 January 2005 (2005-01-30)| 5.10
36| 6| "Say Hello, Say Goodbye"| Paul Kousoulides| Suzie Smith| 6 February 2005 (2005-02-06)| 5.38
37| 7| "Broken Dreams"| Dominic Keavey| Susan Oudot| 13 February 2005 (2005-02-13)| 5.12
38| 8| "Hot Air"| Dominic Keavey| Johanne McAndrew| 20 February 2005 (2005-02-20)| 5.91
39| 9| "Tall Tales"| Simon Massey| Johanne McAndrew| 27 February 2005 (2005-02-27)| 5.44
40| 10| "Trouble 'n' Strife"| Simon Massey| Joe Ainsworth| 6 March 2005 (2005-03-06)| 5.35

## Ratings

[edit]

Series  | Timeslot  | No. of
episodes  | First aired  | Last aired  | Rank  | Avg.
viewers
(millions)

|
|
|
|
|
|

Date  | Viewers
(millions)  | Date  | Viewers
(millions)
1  | Monday 9:00 pm (1)
Sunday 8:10 pm (2) •
8:30 pm (3, 5, 6) • 8:00 pm (4) | 6  | 28 August 2000  | 9.98[1] | 1 October 2000  | 7.93[1] | 9  | 8.02
2  | Sunday 8:00 pm  | 8  | 2 September 2001  | 7.18[1] | 21 October 2001  | 7.15[1] | 12  | 7.55
3  | 8  | 2 February 2003  | 8.04[1] | 23 March 2003  | 6.34[1] | 13  | 7.33
4  | 8  | 4 January 2004  | 7.48[1] | 22 February 2004  | 6.75[1] | 11  | 7.10
5  | 10  | 2 January 2005  | 5.59[1] | 6 March 2005  | 5.35[1] | 18  | 5.43

## DVD release

[edit]

Down to Earth: Series One was released on DVD via Acorn Media on 1 June 2009.[3] No further series have been made available.

## See also

[edit]

* Forever Green (ITV series with very similar theme)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Weekly top 30 programmes on TV sets (July 1998 – Sept 2018)". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
2. ^ BBC – Radio Times – Down to Earth: Honesty
3. ^ "Down To Earth - Series 1 [DVD] [2000]". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 26 February 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Down to Earth at BBC Online
* Down To Earth Homepage
* Down to Earth at the Internet Movie Database

*[No.]: Number