The Newcomers (TV series)

The Newcomers was a late 1960s BBC soap opera which dealt with the subject of a London family, the Coopers, who moved to a housing estate in the fictional country town of Angleton. It was broadcast in bi-weekly half-hour episodes from 5 October 1965 until 28 November 1969. It was initially produced by Verity Lambert.

In the series, a fictional light industrial manufacturing company called Eden Brothers decides to relocate to the rural location. There are conflicts with the older members of the existing community, as well as some lighter moments as urbanites encounter "country characters". Many of the relocated workers have trouble living outside the city. As the series progresses, problems on the factory floor spill over into the community. Throughout this the Coopers strive to raise their daughter and two sons, who are having their own issues.

The show was recorded principally in the BBC's West London studios, mainly Riverside 1, and also at BBC Birmingham Studios, with external scenes filmed in Haverhill, a town in South-west Suffolk, which itself expanded rapidly in the 1950s and 1960s through residents moving from London. The cast included several actors who later achieved wider fame, including Alan Browning (later seen in Coronation Street), Maggie Fitzgibbon, Judy Geeson, Jenny Agutter and Wendy Richard. The theme music was composed by John Barry. In two episodes the group Jimmy Powell and the Five Dimensions were featured and appeared at the pub. (They were billed as "the New Dimensions")They performed their new Decca 45 'I Just Can't Get Over You'

The Cooper and Harker families were the initial focus of the series. The on-screen sudden death of the character of Ellis Cooper led to a gradual shift away from the Coopers, who by the end of the serial barely featured.

A change of the managing director of Eden Bros to Andrew Kerr heralded the arrival of his daughter Kirsty, played by Jenny Agutter, but only during her school holidays.

Only three editions are known to have survived in the BBC's Archives:

• Episode 59 – Original transmission 26 April 1966.
• Episode 172 – Original transmission 26 May 1967.
• Episode 222 – Original transmission 7 December 1967.

Cast

• The Coopers
  • Ellis Cooper, father and supervisor at Eden Brothers – Alan Browning
  • Vivienne Cooper, mother – Maggie Fitzgibbon
  • Phillip Cooper, elder son – Jeremy Bulloch
  • Maria Cooper, daughter – Judy Geeson
  • Lance Cooper, younger son – Raymond Hunt
  • Grandma Hamilton - Gladys Henson
• The Harkers
  • Bert Harker, worker at Eden Brothers – Robert Brown
  • Vera Harker, his wife – June Bland
  • Jimmy Harker – David Janson
  • Joyce Harker – Wendy Richard
• Others
  • Andrew Kerr - Robin Bailey
  • Caroline Kerr - Heather Chasen
  • Kirsty Kerr - Jenny Agutter
  • Hugh Robertson - Jack Watling
  • Olivia Robertson - Mary Kenton
  • Julie Robertson - Deborah Watling
  • Katie Heenan - Vanda Godsell

External links

• The Newcomers at the Internet Movie Database
• The Newcomers at BFI Screenonline