The Midwich Cuckoos (TV series)

The Midwich Cuckoos is a British science fiction television series on Sky Max, created by David Farr.[1][2] It is based on the 1957 book of the same name by John Wyndham. It stars Keeley Hawes and Max Beesley. It began airing on 2 June 2022,[3] and all episodes became available on Sky On Demand. In Australia, the entire series is available on Stan.[4]

The Midwich Cuckoos
Genre
Created byDavid Farr
Based onThe Midwich Cuckoos
by John Wyndham
StarringKeeley Hawes
ComposerHannah Peel
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes7
Production
Executive producers
  • Neil Blair
  • Robert Cheek
  • David Farr
  • Ruth Kenley-Letts
  • Marc Samuelson
  • Rick Senat
  • Alice Troughton
ProducerPat Karam
Running time60 minutes (except first episode: 75 minutes) including adverts.
Production companiesSnowed-In Productions
DayOut Productions
Route 24
Release
Original networkSky Max
Audio formatStereo
Original release2 June 2022 (2022-06-02)

Synopsis

The Midwich Cuckoos is a sci-fi drama in which all of the titular town's child-bearing aged women inexplicably fall pregnant. As these women give birth, Midwich begins to realise these children are unlike any other.[5] Each child resembles their mother (unlike the book where they all have golden eyes, dark blonde hair, and pale, silvery skin). They have their mother's DNA, but with alien additions. And some male, implying a Y chromosome. The government takes an immediate interest and imposes secrecy, paying the parents for their cooperation.

Cast

Main

Supporting and recurring
  • Rebekah Staton as Mary-Ann Phillips
  • Mark Dexter as Stewart McLean
  • Marianne Oldham as Jane Colter
  • Jade Harrison as Deborah Haynes
  • Amy Cudden as Sarah McLean
  • Hannah Tointon as Rachel Saunders
  • Lewis Reeves as Curtis Saunders
  • Anneika Rose as Amrita Chohhan
  • India Ria Amarteifio as Nora Randall
  • Cherrelle Skeete as Bryony Cummings
  • Darcie Smith and Amelie Bea Smith as Charlotte McLean
  • Aditi Pothuganti and Jiyan Kaur Deol as Sunny Chohhan
  • Jude Ible-Thompson and Adiel Magaji as Nathan Blake
  • Erin Ainsworth and Natalia Harris as Lily-Grace Phillips
  • Billie Gadsdon and Indica Watson as Evie Stone
  • Kaylen Luke as Ezra
  • Scarlett Leigh and Georgia Thorne as Hannah Moran
  • Jimmy Bone and Jude Muir as Joe Saunders
  • Dexter Ansell as David Saunders
  • Evan Scott and Marshall Hawkes as Connor Colter
  • Alex Brock as John Lancaster
  • Kimara-Mai Petit and Kimia Lamour as Olive Randall

Episodes
No.
overall		EpisodeDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateUK viewers
(millions)
1Bad ThingsAlice TroughtonDavid Farr2 June 2022 (2022-06-02)1.50
2In This TogetherAlice TroughtonDavid Farr2 June 2022 (2022-06-02)N/A
3The HiveJennifer PerrottDavid Farr and Sasha Hails2 June 2022 (2022-06-02)N/A
4Hide and SeekJennifer PerrottDavid Farr and Laura Lomas2 June 2022 (2022-06-02)N/A
5Why Are You Lying?Jennifer PerrottDavid Farr and Namsi Khan2 June 2022 (2022-06-02)N/A
6Not An Ice CreamBörkur SigþórssonDavid Farr2 June 2022 (2022-06-02)N/A
7DepartureBörkur SigþórssonDavid Farr2 June 2022 (2022-06-02)N/A

Reception

The series received mixed reviews. Lucy Mangan of The Guardian gave the first episode two out of five stars, feeling it did not make the most of its adaptational changes and topicality with its emphasis on the perspective of female characters.[7] Nick Hilton of The Independent also gave it two out of five stars, deeming it 'humourless' and criticizing the production.[8] By contrast, Mark Kermode on Kermode and Mayo's Take praised the series' tone, use of horror and performances, saying it was a successful update of the novel.[9] Carol Midgley of The Times also gave it four stars, praising the atmospheric direction and Farr's scripts.[10]
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 71% based on 14 reviews.[11]

References
  1. "Keeley Hawes & Max Beesley To Star In Sky One's 'The Midwich Cuckoos'". TVWise. 29 April 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-04-29. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
  2. "Sky reveals first look trailer and image for Sky Original drama the Midwich Cuckoos starring Keeley Hawes". Skygroup.sky.
  3. "The Midwich Cuckoos: Release date, cast, trailer and latest news for Keeley Hawes drama". Radio Times. 20 May 2022.
  4. "Exclusive: The Midwich Cuckoos star Keeley Hawes on her 'relatable' role in new Stan sci-fi series". Nine.Com. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
  5. "The Midwich Cuckoos show vs book: Main differences between the Sky drama and book". Daily Express. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
  6. Mellor, Louisa (2022-06-07). "How The Midwich Cuckoos Ending Twist Sets Up Season 2". Den of Geek. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  7. "The Midwich Cuckoos review – women's rights are under attack, and this is what they make?". The Guardian. 2 June 2022.
  8. "The Midwich Cuckoos is a bland, faithless reimagining of the sci-fi novel – review". The Independent. 2 June 2022.
  9. Mark Kermode reviews The Midwich Cuckoos – Kermode and Mayo's Take – via YouTube.
  10. "The Midwich Cuckoos review — one freaky return to the Village of the Damned". The Times. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
  11. "The Midwich Cuckoos". Rotten Tomatoes. 23 January 2023.
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