Lenny Henry's post-Windrush drama 'Three Little Birds' premieres this Sunday night, 22nd October, at 8pm on ITV.
The 6-parter is based on his own mother's experiences from travelling from the Caribbean to the UK in the 1950s. The series tells the story of 3 girls who travel from Jamaica to the UK in 1959, full of hopes and dreams of a better life. Although they soon discover it’s not all it’s cracked up to be, not least the dramatic change in weather.
Saffron Coomber stars as Chantrelle, who is travelling with her sister Leah. They follow their older brother Aston, who has already made the move, and who asks them to bring him a potential wife from back home.
The sisters convince their virtuous friend Hosanna to join them on their journey but they all soon discover their new life doesn’t quite fit the promise of rock and roll, swing, Hollywood starlets and fabulous fashion they were expecting. Over time we learn the shocking truths about the lives they left behind and see how they fiercely tackle the obstacles of integration to build themselves a new home in Britain.
Amy Beth Hayes also has a major role in the show, playing Mrs Wantage, who, along with her husband, employs Chantrelle as a live-in nanny. However it transpires that they expect far more from her than just cooking shepherd’s pie and minding their three children.
The official synopsis tells us that "Chantrelle dreams of stardom, and her job as a live in nanny to a respectable British family living close to the famous film studios in Borehamwood, is just the ticket to fame that she craves. As the scales fall from her eyes, Chantrelle discovers the devastating truth about this ‘respectable’ family and that the short-cut route to stardom is a million miles away from her reality."
“It’s based on my mum’s story of coming to Britain in 1957,” says Lenny Henry. “It’s about the trials and tribulations of young black women making a new life in the UK.”
The story feels very personal for Saffron too, who has said, "My grandparents came over from Jamaica at around the same time. I owe everything to them. I wouldn't be sitting here without them taking that leap of faith....I like knowing where I've come from. I think it's really important to understand the legacy that is gifted to us by our family, even if sometimes I never met those relatives."
Watch the trailer and tune in at 8pm on Sunday night on ITV1.
Saffron Coomber and Amy Beth Hayes are available for voiceovers from Anthea Represents. Click their images for their profile pages and voiceover showreels.
