At Home with the Braithwaites - The Complete First Series | 
| Directors: Andy Deemmony, Dan Zeff, David Innes Edwards, Matthew Evans, Morag Fullarton
Actors: Ishia Bennison, Amanda Redman, Julie Graham, Peter Davison, Jonathan Le Billon
Studio: Acorn Media
Category: DVD
List Price: $39.99
Buy New: $35.99
You Save: $4.00 (10%)
New (24) Used (10) from $19.79
Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 77323
Format: Box Set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Full Screen, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 2
Running Time: 292 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5.2 x 1.3
ISBN: 1569387184
UPC: 054961718498
EAN: 9781569387184
ASIN: B0002HODEU
Release Date: August 24, 2004
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Superb writing and outstanding performances make the first series of this British comedy-drama completely compelling. The Braithwaite family has its fights and dysfunctions, but chances are they would have gone on for years without improving or falling apart--until Alison (Amanda Redman, Sexy Beast), the mother, wins 38 million pounds in a lottery. She decides to keep it secret, fearing that sudden wealth might bring out the worst in her banker husband David (Peter Davison, Campion, Doctor Who) and her temperamental daughters (Sarah Smart, Sarah Churm, and Keeley Fawcett). Instead, she sets up a foundation to help people in need. But she's not the only one in the family with secrets--and when they start coming out, it's hard to stop. The skillful plot of At Home with the Braithwaites tightens like a noose over six propulsive episodes. Every turn of the plot is driven by these well-crafted characters with richly human strengths and weaknesses. Alison could have been an annoying do-gooder, but Redman makes her noble efforts down to earth; David could have been an utter weasel--and in fact, he is, but Davison earns our respect by making him real as well. The show has some conventional suspenseful bits (there's even a car chase at one point), but the most gripping elements are ordinary people grappling with everyday problems; the money sets the story in motion, but the characters make it move. --Bret Fetzer
Description
On her 40th birthday, Alison Braithwaite gets the surprise of her life when she wins 38 million in the first Euro Lottery. She decides to keep the news of her win from her family so as not to encourage the baser instincts of her three squabbling daughters and banker husband. But she's not the only one living a double life. As her family lurches from one crisis to another, Alison tries to use her windfall responsibly, resisting the pressure to let her family in on her secret. Eventually, though, all the Braithwaite secrets come tumbling out in one big pile of dirty linen. A smash hit in the U.K., this cutting-edge dramatic comedy stars acclaimed actress Amanda Redman (Sexy Beast) with Peter Davison (Campion, Dr. Who), Lynda Bellingham (My Uncle Silas), and Sylvia Syms (The Jury).
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
38 MILL November 30, 2007
G. E. Mccullers (Cambridge, England)
I was fortunate enough to see the series during its initial broadcast in England. I was glued to my television as each episode was aired. The protagonist is a typical northern English housewife named Alison Braithwaite (Amanda Redmond) who received a lottery ticket as a birthday present from her youngest daughter. Two scenarios start building side by side. Alison wants to be very altruistic with the money by giving it away with the help of two women (Lynda Bellingham and Sylvia Sims--both accomplished English actresses). Meanwhile her husband David (Peter Davison--a former 'Dr. Who') is having an affair. Alison's eldest daughter knows about the 38 million and her middle daughter knows about the affair. The parallel storylines grow ever closer each episode with nailbiting effects!! It's a race to see if David will find out about the lottery win first or will Alison find out about his affair before she's ready to tell him about the money.
I wore out my VHS copy of the series so I got it on DVD!! This is one of the most interesting and entertaining series I've watched as it has loads of humour, drama, comedy and an interesting morale. I also love the photography and I wish the soundtrack (music performed by 'The Egg') was also released as it is excellent theme music! It'll be one you'll want to watch repeatedly and you'll constantly pick out new things you didn't notice before.
Braithwaites' Stew November 25, 2007
J. Christensen (Georgia, USA)
No matter what else I had planned to do, whenever this show came on, I found myself in front of the TV, holding my breath.
GREAT SERIES!! September 7, 2005
Bloomwood (Balmoral, Aberdeenshire, Scotland)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I love this series. It is a very complex mix of family characters...in ONE family. Very nicely done, very intelligent...very entertaining.
A First-Rate British Comedy-Drama! June 15, 2005
Tiggah (Calgary, Alberta Canada)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This boxed set contains the complete first series (six 50-minute episodes from 2000) of what is a fast-paced, hilarious, mildly suspenseful comedy-drama. The series centres around Alison Braithwaite (Amanda Redman--New Tricks, Hope and Glory), a middle-aged housewife who wins 38 million pounds on the lottery. The problems begin when she decides not to tell her family, who (save for Charlotte, her youngest daughter) are a materialistic, petty, and less-than-responsible lot. Though somewhat deceitful, her decision is understandable. What we quickly discover, however, is that this is not the only deception or secret kept by a member of this family. Alison's husband (Peter Davison--All Creatures Great and Small, The Last Detective, Campion)--unbeknownst to her or anyone else--has been having an affair with his secretary, whilst eldest daughter Virginia is a flighty, closet homosexual besotted with the next-door neighbour (an attractive but vain, self-centred actress). All this is revealed in the first episode, and as I don't want to give too much away, I will only say that as the series progresses, the deceptions and secrets multiply and the tension builds tremendously.
The pace of this series reminds me of a rollercoaster ride. There are times when we coast (and have a chance to catch our breath), but for the most part it feels like we're careening downhill as everything seems to be spiralling out of control. We watched one episode of this series every Friday night, and never have I found it so hard to wait a week to watch the next episode. I have no idea what to expect with the second series, as the first one was so good, but I'm definitely looking forward to seeing it. And to think, I'd never even heard of this series prior to getting it and almost didn't get it!
In conclusion, like Cold Feet (another excellent series), this is a modern comedy-drama and not appropriate for family viewing; but though for mature audiences, it's not a dirty show (like so many of the modern comedies put out by BBC nowadays). I highly, highly recommend At Home With The Braithwaites to anyone looking for a really entertaining, fast-paced, well-acted, funny, suspensy comedy-drama. The accents are not heavy, and whether one is a fan of British television in particular or not, it's certainly worth checking out. There are not many shows that are this entertaining, and I personally am very glad I took a chance on it.
Very highly recommended!
Really fun! April 20, 2005
drama lover (Alexandria, VA USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a good example of how fine writing and well-done production can turn a rather simple idea into a really good TV show. Everything about this has been done well. Part drama, part comedy, you share the characters fears and instincts and want to know what happens next. I put it on last night, intending to watch just the first episode. I was engrossed in no time and couldn't turn it off; after three hours I forced myself to turn it off and go to bed. Cheers for Yorkshire Television. Needless to say, highly recommended.
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