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Down to Earth (2000 TV series)

{{Short description|British television drama series (2000–2005)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}

{{more citations needed|date=March 2023}}

{{Infobox television

| image = Down to Earth (UK TV series) DVD boxart.jpg

| runtime = approx. 60 mins

| creator = Ashley Pharoah

| executive_producer =

| 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 = United Kingdom

| language = English

| network = BBC One

| first_aired = {{Start date|2000|08|28|df=y}}

| last_aired = {{End date|2005|03|06|df=y}}

| num_series = 5

| num_episodes = 40

| list_episodes =

}}

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

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

Episodes

{{Series overview

| color1 = #B9D9EB

| link1 = #Series 1 (2000)

| episodes1 = 6

| start1 = {{Start date|2000|8|28|df=y}}

| end1 = {{End date|2000|10|1|df=y}}

| color2 = #FFC680

| link2 = #Series 2 (2001)

| episodes2 = 8

| start2 = {{Start date|2001|9|2|df=y}}

| end2 = {{End date|2001|10|21|df=y}}

| color3 = #FA8072

| link3 = #Series 3 (2003)

| episodes3 = 8

| start3 = {{Start date|2003|2|2|df=y}}

| end3 = {{End date|2003|3|23|df=y}}

| color4 = #A8E4A0

| link4 = #Series 4 (2004)

| episodes4 = 8

| start4 = {{Start date|2004|1|4|df=y}}

| end4 = {{End date|2004|2|22|df=y}}

| color5 = #FCE883

| link5 = #Series 5 (2005)

| episodes5 = 10

| start5 = {{Start date|2005|1|2|df=y}}

| end5 = {{End date|2005|3|6|df=y}}

}}

=Series 1 (2000)=

{{Episode table|background=#B9D9EB |overall=5|series=5|title=20|director=18|writer=18|airdate=18|viewers=11| viewersR=|country=UK|episodes=

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|The Great Escape}}

| DirectedBy = Ashley Pearce

| WrittenBy = Ashley Pharoah

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2000|8|28|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 1

| EpisodeNumber2 = 1

| Viewers = 9.98

| ShortSummary = Life on the farm is more than the Addises can handle.

| LineColor = B9D9EB

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|In at the Deep End}}

| DirectedBy = Ashley Pearce

| WrittenBy = Helen Slavin

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2000|9|3|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 2

| EpisodeNumber2 = 2

| Viewers = 7.87

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

| LineColor = B9D9EB

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|O Best Beloved…|O Best Beloved...}}

| DirectedBy = Ashley Pearce

| WrittenBy = Helen Slavin

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2000|9|10|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 3

| EpisodeNumber2 = 3

| Viewers = 7.15

| ShortSummary = 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.

| LineColor = B9D9EB

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Do As You Would Be Do Be By|Do As You Would Be Done By}}

| DirectedBy = Ashley Pearce

| WrittenBy = Helen Slavin

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2000|9|17|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 4

| EpisodeNumber2 = 4

| Viewers = 7.20

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

| LineColor = B9D9EB

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Kingdom for a Horse}}

| DirectedBy = Ashley Pearce

| WrittenBy = Helen Slavin

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2000|9|24|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 5

| EpisodeNumber2 = 5

| Viewers = 8.01

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

| LineColor = B9D9EB

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|A Field of Dreams}}

| DirectedBy = Ashley Pearce

| WrittenBy = Ashley Pharoah

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2000|10|1|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 6

| EpisodeNumber2 = 6

| Viewers = 7.93

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

| LineColor = B9D9EB

}}

}}

=Series 2 (2001)=

{{Episode table|background=#FFC680 |overall=5|series=5|title=20|director=18|writer=18|airdate=18|viewers=11| viewersR= |country=UK|episodes=

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Great Expectations}}

| DirectedBy = Juliet May

| WrittenBy = Ashley Pharoah

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|9|2|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 7

| EpisodeNumber2 = 1

| Viewers = 7.18

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

| LineColor = FFC680

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Wild Life}}

| DirectedBy = Juliet May

| WrittenBy = Helen Slavin

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|9|9|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 8

| EpisodeNumber2 = 2

| Viewers = 7.19

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

| LineColor = FFC680

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|A Time To Live}}

| DirectedBy = Juliet May

| WrittenBy = Suzie Smith

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|9|16|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 9

| EpisodeNumber2 = 3

| Viewers = 7.51

| ShortSummary = Brian and Faith take up organic gardening.

| LineColor = FFC680

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Rites and Wrongs}}

| DirectedBy = Indra Bhose

| WrittenBy = Georgia Pritchett

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|9|23|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 10

| EpisodeNumber2 = 4

| Viewers = 7.58

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

| LineColor = FFC680

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|The Final Straw}}

| DirectedBy = Indra Bhose

| WrittenBy = Suzie Smith

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|9|30|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 11

| EpisodeNumber2 = 5

| Viewers = 8.86

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

| LineColor = FFC680

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Home Truths}}

| DirectedBy = Indra Bhose

| WrittenBy = Ashley Pharoah

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|10|7|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 12

| EpisodeNumber2 = 6

| Viewers = 7.61

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

| LineColor = FFC680

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|The Lie of the Land}}

| DirectedBy = Claire Windyard

| WrittenBy = Helen Slavin

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|10|14|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 13

| EpisodeNumber2 = 7

| Viewers = 7.28

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

| LineColor = FFC680

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Gone But Not Forgotten}}

| DirectedBy = Claire Windyard

| WrittenBy = Georgia Pritchett

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2001|10|21|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 14

| EpisodeNumber2 = 8

| Viewers = 7.15

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

| LineColor = FFC680

}}

}}

=Series 3 (2003)=

{{Episode table|background=#FA8072 |overall=5|series=5|title=20|director=18|writer=18|airdate=18|viewers=11| viewersR=|country=UK|episodes=

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|All Together Now}}

| DirectedBy = Juliet May

| WrittenBy = Ashley Pharoah

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|2|2|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 15

| EpisodeNumber2 = 1

| Viewers = 8.04

| ShortSummary = Faith is busy planning a family wedding.

| LineColor = FA8072

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Faith}}

| DirectedBy = Juliet May

| WrittenBy = Simon Sharkey

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|2|9|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 16

| EpisodeNumber2 = 2

| Viewers = 8.12

| ShortSummary = Faith learns some devastating news about Brian.

| LineColor = FA8072

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|The Last Dance}}

| DirectedBy = Frank W. Smith

| WrittenBy = David Joss Buckley

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|2|16|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 17

| EpisodeNumber2 = 3

| Viewers = 7.28

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

| LineColor = FA8072

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Moving On}}

| DirectedBy = Frank W. Smith

| WrittenBy = Alan Whiting

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|2|23|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 18

| EpisodeNumber2 = 4

| Viewers = 7.81

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

| LineColor = FA8072

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Cat on a Bonfire}}

| DirectedBy = Michael Cocker

| WrittenBy = James Wood

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|3|2|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 19

| EpisodeNumber2 = 5

| Viewers = 8.01

| ShortSummary = New tenant Matt becomes lost in the countryside.

| LineColor = FA8072

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|The Poseidon Effect}}

| DirectedBy = Michael Cocker

| WrittenBy = Leslie Stewart

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|3|9|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 20

| EpisodeNumber2 = 6

| Viewers = 6.68

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

| LineColor = FA8072

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Honesty}}

| RTitle = [https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/c7875e88782146b59f5406ee1bf1c9d9 BBC – Radio Times – Down to Earth: Honesty]

| DirectedBy = Rob Evans

| WrittenBy = Suzie Smith

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|3|16|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 21

| EpisodeNumber2 = 7

| Viewers = 6.39

| ShortSummary = A nosey neighbour brings troubles for Frankie.

| LineColor = FA8072

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|High Hopes}}

| DirectedBy = Rob Evans

| WrittenBy = David Joss Buckley

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2003|3|23|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 22

| EpisodeNumber2 = 8

| Viewers = 6.34

| ShortSummary = The Brewers need to expand their business.

| LineColor = FA8072

}}

}}

=Series 4 (2004)=

{{Episode table|background=#A8E4A0 |overall=5|series=5|title=20|director=18|writer=18|airdate=18|viewers=11| viewersR=|country=UK|episodes=

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Still Waters}}

| DirectedBy = Simon Meyers

| WrittenBy = Peter Gibbs

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|1|4|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 23

| EpisodeNumber2 = 1

| Viewers = 7.48

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = A8E4A0

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Seeing is Believing}}

| DirectedBy = Simon Meyers

| WrittenBy = Jane Hollowood

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|1|11|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 24

| EpisodeNumber2 = 2

| Viewers = 7.13

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = A8E4A0

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Fate and Fortune}}

| DirectedBy = Simon Meyers

| WrittenBy = Susan Wilkins

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|1|18|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 25

| EpisodeNumber2 = 3

| Viewers = 7.12

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = A8E4A0

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Can’t Buy You Love|Can't Buy You Love}}

| DirectedBy = Simon Meyers

| WrittenBy = Joe Fraser

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|1|25|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 26

| EpisodeNumber2 = 4

| Viewers = 7.27

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = A8E4A0

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Family Ties}}

| DirectedBy = Simon Massey

| WrittenBy = Susan Watkins

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|2|1|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 27

| EpisodeNumber2 = 5

| Viewers = 7.17

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = A8E4A0

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Best Laid Plans}}

| DirectedBy = Simon Massey

| WrittenBy = Stuart Morris

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|2|8|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 28

| EpisodeNumber2 = 6

| Viewers = 6.84

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = A8E4A0

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|First Love}}

| DirectedBy = Dominic Keavey

| WrittenBy = Peter Gibbs

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|2|15|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 29

| EpisodeNumber2 = 7

| Viewers = 7.03

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = A8E4A0

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Unfinished Business}}

| DirectedBy = Doninic Keavey

| WrittenBy = Peter Gibbs

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2004|2|22|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 30

| EpisodeNumber2 = 8

| Viewers = 6.75

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = A8E4A0

}}

}}

=Series 5 (2005)=

{{Episode table|background=#FCE883 |overall=5|series=5|title=20|director=18|writer=18|airdate=18|viewers=11| viewersR=|country=UK|episodes=

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Sisterly Feelings}}

| DirectedBy = Dominic Keavey

| WrittenBy = Peter Gibbs

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|1|2|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 31

| EpisodeNumber2 = 1

| Viewers = 5.59

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = FCE883

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Cowboys}}

| DirectedBy = Doninic Keavey

| WrittenBy = Stuart Morris

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|1|9|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 32

| EpisodeNumber2 = 2

| Viewers = 5.57

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = FCE883

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Ignorance Is Bliss}}

| DirectedBy = Terry Iland

| WrittenBy = Jane Hollowood

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|1|16|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 33

| EpisodeNumber2 = 3

| Viewers = 5.40

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = FCE883

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Dangerous Liaisons}}

| DirectedBy = Terry Iland

| WrittenBy = Susan Watkins

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|1|23|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 34

| EpisodeNumber2 = 4

| Viewers = 5.48

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = FCE883

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Changes}}

| DirectedBy = Paul Kousoulides

| WrittenBy = Susan Oudot

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|1|30|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 35

| EpisodeNumber2 = 5

| Viewers = 5.10

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = FCE883

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Say Hello, Say Goodbye}}

| DirectedBy = Paul Kousoulides

| WrittenBy = Suzie Smith

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|2|6|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 36

| EpisodeNumber2 = 6

| Viewers = 5.38

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = FCE883

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Broken Dreams}}

| DirectedBy = Dominic Keavey

| WrittenBy = Susan Oudot

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|2|13|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 37

| EpisodeNumber2 = 7

| Viewers = 5.12

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = FCE883

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Hot Air}}

| DirectedBy = Dominic Keavey

| WrittenBy = Johanne McAndrew

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|2|20|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 38

| EpisodeNumber2 = 8

| Viewers = 5.91

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = FCE883

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Tall Tales}}

| DirectedBy = Simon Massey

| WrittenBy = Johanne McAndrew

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|2|27|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 39

| EpisodeNumber2 = 9

| Viewers = 5.44

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = FCE883

}}

{{Episode list

| Title = {{va|Trouble 'n' Strife|Trouble ’n’ Strife|Trouble & Strife}}

| DirectedBy = Simon Massey

| WrittenBy = Joe Ainsworth

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|3|6|df=y}}

| EpisodeNumber = 40

| EpisodeNumber2 = 10

| Viewers = 5.35

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = FCE883

}}

}}

Ratings

class="wikitable"
rowspan="2"|Series

! rowspan="2"|Timeslot

! rowspan="2"|No. of
episodes

! colspan="2"|First aired

! colspan="2"|Last aired

! rowspan="2"|Rank

! rowspan="2"|Avg.
viewers
(millions)

Date

! Viewers
(millions)

! Date

! Viewers
(millions)

align="center"|1

| align="center"|Monday 9:00 pm {{small|(1)}}
Sunday 8:10 pm {{small|(2)}} •
8:30 pm {{small|(3, 5, 6)}} • 8:00 pm {{small|(4)}}

| align="center"|6

| align="center"|28 August 2000

| align="center"|9.98{{cite web| title= Weekly top 30 programmes on TV sets (July 1998 – Sept 2018)| url= https://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/weekly-top-30/| website=Broadcasters' Audience Research Board| access-date=26 February 2023}}

| align="center"|1 October 2000

| align="center"|7.93

| align="center"|9

| align="center"|8.02

align="center"|2

| rowspan="4" align="center"|Sunday 8:00 pm

| align="center"|8

| align="center"|2 September 2001

| align="center"|7.18

| align="center"|21 October 2001

| align="center"|7.15

| align="center"|12

| align="center"|7.55

align="center"|3

| align="center"|8

| align="center"|2 February 2003

| align="center"|8.04

| align="center"|23 March 2003

| align="center"|6.34

| align="center"|13

| align="center"|7.33

align="center"|4

| align="center"|8

| align="center"|4 January 2004

| align="center"|7.48

| align="center"|22 February 2004

| align="center"|6.75

| align="center"|11

| align="center"|7.10

align="center"|5

| align="center"|10

| align="center"|2 January 2005

| align="center"|5.59

| align="center"|6 March 2005

| align="center"|5.35

| align="center"|18

| align="center"|5.43

DVD release

Down to Earth: Series One was released on DVD via Acorn Media on 1 June 2009.{{cite web| title= Down To Earth - Series 1 [DVD] [2000]| url= https://www.amazon.co.uk/Down-Earth-DVD-Pauline-Quirke/dp/B001L7XNO6/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=12A8BI0XPKXTV&keywords=down+to+earth+dvd&qid=1677390996&sprefix=down+to+earth+%2Caps%2C102&sr=8-1| website=amazon.co.uk| access-date=26 February 2023}} No further series have been made available.

See also

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{BBC programme}}
  • [https://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/down_to_earth.shtml Down To Earth Homepage]
  • [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0260611/ Down to Earth] at the Internet Movie Database

Category:2000s British drama television series

Category:2000 British television series debuts

Category:2005 British television series endings

Category:BBC television dramas

Category:Television shows set in Devon

Category:British English-language television shows