When the Boat Comes In
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About
When the Boat Comes In is a British television period drama produced by the BBC between 8 January 1976 and 21 April 1981. Taking place between 1919 to 1937, Jack Ford is a veteran of The Great War who returns to his poverty-stricken (fictional) town of Gallowshield in the North East of England. It dramatises the interwar political struggles of the 1920s and 1930s, and explores the impact of national and international politics upon Ford and those around him.
Cast
Episodes
Series 1
A Land Fit for Heroes and Idiots
1919: Jack Ford returns to Gallowshields on Tyneside after service in the Great War. He befriends the Seaton family—parents Bill and Bella, and their children: attractive schoolteacher Jessie, Socialist medical student Billy, and black sheep Tom. Billy and Jessie try to involve Jack in the local Labour Party against the Liberal candidate and magistrate, former Major Pinner, who is against votes for women. Pinner not only wins, but makes himself unpopular by trying a shell-shocked war hero who got into a fight whilst confused and scared.
Say Hello... Say Tirra
Billy, Tom and old army pal Matt try to involve Jack in the Labour movement but he seems uninterested. Bella takes in Harry, a young orphan. Father Keenley, the local priest, tells Bella that she could adopt but this would put a strain on resources and it might be better if she allows the boy to be sent on an emigration scheme to Australia.
Fish in Woolly Jumpers
Times are hard as the miners strike over a pay claim and Tom, now married with a son to keep as well as Mary, who has tuberculosis, borrows money from the seemingly flush Jack. Jack meets Matt's sister Dolly Mather, a war widow with whom he has an affair. Aware that Jack is involved in some sort of scam, Tom threatens to expose them unless Jack counts him in so Jack and Matt take Tom on their nocturnal 'fishing trip', in reality stealing sheep. They have a narrow escape after a run-in with a policeman but Jessie, against Jack's expectations, condones his activities.
Swords and Pick Handles
Jack visits Sir Horatio Manners, father of his late commanding officer, to gift him a sword. Manners knows this is a ploy for Jack to ingratiate himself but is regardless impressed by his guile and offers him a job at his new factory, supervising non-union workers. This angers Jessie, who sees Jack as betraying his kind but they reconcile after Jack rescues Tom, in need of money and working as a 'black-leg', from being beaten up by his striking colleagues.
Coal Comfort
As the strike continues, Bill approaches an old friend, regarding the location of a mine shut down fifty years earlier. Tom pursues two children who have stolen leeks from his allotment but, on discovering that their mother is a war widow with no pension, makes a gift of leeks to them. Billy decides to quit his studies and, while Bill initially offers no opposition, he belittles the lad in the hopes that he will change his mind. The three Seaton men work on the shallow pit that Bill begins to dig under the floorboards — and eventually, Tom holds up a lump of coal in triumph.
Empire Day on the Slag Heap
The strike ends with no concessions won by the colliers. Jack triumphs at the factory and Manners suggests that he could do better than Jessie. Jessie goes on a date with the older, formal Arthur Ashton, who proposes, though she turns him down. Matt tells Jack that Dolly is pregnant and so he agrees to marry her. Bill, injured at the pit, is offered a payment by the mining company but at the expense of admitting his own liability. Jack bitterly opposes this and holds out for a better settlement, winning Jessie's admiration.
A First Time for Everything
Encouraged by French onion seller Pierre, Bella turns the front of the house into a shop, using some of Bill's compensation. Bill, still bound to a wheelchair, is initially hostile but sees the need for income. Jessie is impressed by the intelligence of 14-year-old pupil Ronnie and tries to dissuade him from working in the mine but his mother is a widow and he wants to earn 'man's money'. He goes to work in the pit and is killed, causing Tom, who was looking after him, to quit. Jessie gets engaged to Ashton whilst Jack weds Dolly at the registry office.
Paddy Boyle's Discharge
Mary dies. Jack is in a pub when he meets old army colleague Sid Hepburn, still a professional soldier who suggests that Jack re-enlist as soldiers' pay is very good. Paddy Boyle, an Irish member of Jack's sheep-stealing gang, is convinced that Hepburn and his friend Bartram are the two British soldiers responsible for rape and murder back in Cork. Jack realises that Paddy is a member of Sinn Fein. Having considered Hepburn's offer, Jack declines rejoining the army but is too late to stop carnage when Bartram and Hepburn are shot by Paddy and his Sinn Fein comrade Lynch. Despite a warning cry from Jack, Paddy is also shot by a British soldier.
Where does When the Boat Comes In rank today?
When the Boat Comes In is #3870 on the Bowood.TV Daily Streaming Charts today.
- Highest: #3870
- Top 10: 0 days
- Top 100: 0 days
Watch When the Boat Comes In Online Free — All Episodes in HD
Stream When the Boat Comes In online free in HD on Bowood.TV. A well-rated drama series originally produced in English and released in 1976, it's earned a solid 7.7/10 from 3 viewers worldwide.
About When the Boat Comes In
When the Boat Comes In is a British television period drama produced by the BBC between 8 January 1976 and 21 April 1981. Taking place between 1919 to 1937, Jack Ford is a veteran of The Great War who returns to his poverty-stricken (fictional) town of Gallowshield in the North East of England. It dramatises the interwar political struggles of the 1920s and 1930s, and explores the impact of national and international politics upon Ford and those around him. Across 4 seasons and 51 episodes, originally airing on BBC One.
When the Boat Comes In Cast and Characters
The cast features James Bolam (as Jack Ford). Their performances are a major reason When the Boat Comes In has built such a passionate audience.
Where to Watch When the Boat Comes In Online
On Bowood.TV you can watch When the Boat Comes In free — no account, no credit card, no ads in the middle of the show. We stream the full series in 720p / 1080p HD, with subtitles when available, on any device: phone, tablet, laptop, or smart TV browser.
▶ Watch When the Boat Comes In NowWhy People Are Watching When the Boat Comes In
There's a reason When the Boat Comes In keeps showing up on "must-watch" lists. What makes it work is emotional weight that hits where it counts. If you enjoy English storytelling that doesn't follow the same tired beats, this is the kind of show you'll end up recommending to friends.
Frequently Asked Questions about When the Boat Comes In
Where can I watch When the Boat Comes In online for free?
You can watch When the Boat Comes In online free on Bowood.TV. Just open the page and hit play — no signup, no subscription, full HD streaming on phone, tablet, or desktop.
How many episodes does When the Boat Comes In have?
When the Boat Comes In has 51 episodes across 4 seasons. All episodes are available to stream right here on Bowood.TV.
Is When the Boat Comes In good? What's the rating?
When the Boat Comes In holds a 7.7/10 rating based on 3 reviews — well above average.
Who is in the cast of When the Boat Comes In?
The main cast includes James Bolam.
Is When the Boat Comes In available in English?
Yes — When the Boat Comes In was originally produced in English and that's the version you'll stream here on Bowood.TV.
When was When the Boat Comes In released?
When the Boat Comes In first aired in 1976.
Do I need an account to watch When the Boat Comes In on Bowood.TV?
No. Bowood.TV is free and you can watch When the Boat Comes In without creating an account. Sign-up is optional — only useful if you want a personal Watchlist or to comment on episodes.
Similar Series You Might Like
If you enjoyed When the Boat Comes In, check out Carnivàle, Gibbsville, Nanny, The King of Warsaw, and The Hardacres.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch When the Boat Comes In for free?
You can watch When the Boat Comes In online for free on Bowood.TV. All 51 episodes across 4 seasons are available to stream in HD without a subscription, signup, or paywall. Just open the show page and press play.
How many seasons and episodes does When the Boat Comes In have?
When the Boat Comes In currently has 4 seasons and a total of 51 episodes. The series status is "Ended", so the episode count may grow as new seasons are released. You can browse the full episode list on Bowood.TV and continue watching from where you left off.
What is When the Boat Comes In about?
When the Boat Comes In is a British television period drama produced by the BBC between 8 January 1976 and 21 April 1981. Taking place between 1919 to 1937, Jack Ford is a veteran of The Great War who returns to his poverty-stricken (fictional) town of Gallowshield in the North East of England. It dramatises the int… It belongs to the Drama genre.
In which language is When the Boat Comes In originally available?
When the Boat Comes In was originally produced in English. On Bowood.TV the show is available in its original English audio, which is the most authentic way to experience the dialogue, music, and performances. Check the player options on the watch page for available subtitle tracks.
When was When the Boat Comes In first released?
When the Boat Comes In first premiered on January 8, 1976 (1976). The series has since concluded its run.
All Seasons
Browse every season of When the Boat Comes In — 4 seasons in total
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