Written by Sir Lenny Henry (The Long Song), the new BritBox period drama “Three Little Birds” is inspired by the stories of his mother, Winifred. On many occasions as Sir Lenny Henry grew up, she would talk about leaving Jamaica in the late 1950s for Great Britain, which became their lifelong family home.
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The new six-part series co-produced by the streamer promises to be a life-affirming drama exploring untold stories of love, sisterhood, parenting and friendship, and the joys, laughter and struggles of making a new life in England.
Read on to see the first photos, for cast information, plot details, and more about the period drama “Three Little Birds.” The series premieres the first three episodes on BritBox on Thursday, February 1, 2024, with the final three installments arriving a week later.
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Set in 1957, post-Windrush, and amidst the booming decade set alight by promise, the rhythm of rock and roll, swing, Hollywood starlets, and fabulous fashion, “Three Little Birds” (2024) introduces us to the gregarious sisters Leah (Rochelle Neil, The Nevers), and Chantrelle (Saffron Coomber, EastEnders) and their virtuous, bible-loving acquaintance, Hosanna (newcomer Yazmin Belo), as they board a cruise ship from Jamaica bound for a new life in Blighty.
Lured to the UK in search of new beginnings by their older brother Aston (Javone Prince, Dodger), who asks Leah and Chantrelle if they’ll bring him a potential wife from back home, they convince Hosanna to give up her job as a trainee nurse and embark upon the journey to the mother country. Hosanna agrees to step out of the shadow of her father, the local preacher, to embark upon her journey of a lifetime.
An effervescent mix of strong personalities, the women have very different reasons for leaving their family and friends behind in Clarendon, Jamaica, though they all soon discover it’s not all it’s cracked up to be, not least the dramatic change in weather. The reality of British life in London’s Notting Hill brings them down with a bump, and they make a beeline for the Midlands.
We learn shocking truths about the lives they left behind, and cheer them on in their determination to succeed and overcome the many obstacles of integration and build a new life in Britain.
“Three Little Birds” offers a moving, funny, heartfelt and ultimately triumphant celebration of immigration, community and the strength of Black womanhood.
The British period drama also stars Bobby Gordon (Hollyoaks) as the sisters’ new factory-worker colleague Shelton, and Arthur Darvill (Broadchurch) and Beth Hayes (Mr Selfridge) as Chantrelle’s employers Mr and Mrs Wantage, who expect far more from her than just cooking shepherd’s pie and minding their three children as their new live-in Nanny.
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