Three Little Birds is the brainchild of legendary British comedian Sir Lenny Henry who has written and produced this ITV1 drama. The period piece is a moving celebration of immigration as it follows three women who are brave enough to board a cruise ship and set sail for a new life in the ‘mother country’, namely the UK.
“It’s based on my mum’s story of coming to Britain in 1957,” says writer and creator Sir Lenny Henry. “It’s about the trials and tribulations of young black women making a new life in the UK.”
This historical drama stars The Nevers actress Rochelle Neil and former EastEnders star Saffron Coomber as gregarious sisters Leah and Chantrelle, who convince their bible-loving acquaintance Hosanna (Yazmin Belo) to join them on their adventure.
The series shows how the reality doesn’t quite live up to the promises they were made, but they are determined to overcome the obstacles thrown in their way and build a new life in Britain.
So here’s everything you need to know about Three Little Birds on ITV1…
Three Little Birds release date
Three Little Birds is a six-part series that premieres on ITV1 on Sunday October 22 at 8pm, as part of the Black History month celebrations for 2023. Episodes run weekly at the same time on ITV1 and will be available for streaming as a box set on ITVX in the UK and BritBox in the US.
Is there a trailer for Three Little Birds?
Yes a trailer for Three Little Birds has been released by ITV which you can watch below.. And below that you can also watch the Three Little Birds cast plus writer/producer Lenny Henry on the red carpet at the recent BAFTA TV Awards...
Three Little Birds plot
Set in 1957, post-Windrush, the series follows Jamaican sisters Leah (Rochelle Neil) and Chantrelle (Saffron Coomber) who are lured to the UK in search of new beginnings.
They follow their older brother Aston (played by Javone Prince), 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 (Yazmin Belo) 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.
And it’s not just the British weather they have to contend with. 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.
Three Little Birds cast — Rochelle Neil on playing Leah Whittaker
In Three Little Birds, Rochelle Neil plays the party-loving Leah.
Rochelle says: "I describe Leah as a woman on a mission – not only to bring her children over from Jamaica, but also to rediscover herself. She’s been in an abusive marriage for many years, so when her brother, Aston, writes to ask her to find him a wife and bring her over, she starts her plan to escape. Coming to Britain is a shock for Leah. She hasn’t experienced that level of cold and damp compared to Jamaica, but she’s also stunned by the hostilities. Our story is set nearly 10 years after the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush in Britain [in 1948, which carried hundreds of passengers from Caribbean countries to help rebuild the country after World War Two], but lots of people really didn’t want the Caribbean community to come over and settle. In our cast and crew, it feels like everyone has a link to this story. It’s very special on set – this series has been cooked with a lot of love."
* Rochelle Neil previously starred in The Nevers, Guilt, Das Boot and Episodes.
Saffron Coomber on playing Chantrelle Brahms
Saffron Coomber plays Chantrelle, Leah’s sister, in Three Little Birds.
Saffron says: "Chantrelle wants to be a star – she comes to the UK because there is a film studio in Borehamwood! She’s a movie buff, dreaming of something bigger than what she thinks Jamaica can give her. She believes England is where she will make her fortune. Leah and Chantrelle are very close. They’ve had their ups and downs, like all sisters, but there is a deep love at the core of it. Leah has always protected her; she’s the ultimate big sister. Chantrelle relishes that, to an extent, but she also wants her freedom.
"When I got the scripts, I had never read something so unflinching about how difficult it was for people, pre- and post-Windrush, to build a life here. It’s written with such love and pride, for the hardship as well as the high points. Every time I see Lenny on set, I think, “Oh God, I’ve got to be good!” But he’s such a lovely man. When you get the thumbs-up from him, it makes you feel great!"
* Saffron Coomber previously played Alexa in EastEnders and Lauren Earnshaw in Holby City. She’s also starred in Tracy Beaker Returns, Flack, Small Axe and The Deceived.
Yazmin Belo as Hosanna Drake
Newcomer Yazmin Belo plays the religious Hosanna in Three Little Birds.
Yazmin says: "Hosanna is a pastor’s daughter, and her faith rules the entirety of her decisions. Her whole ethos is to serve others, but she has lost herself because of that. So I think coming to England is a massive step in putting herself first without really realising. She isn’t actually anticipating staying in England as long as she does – love isn’t necessarily on Hosanna’s agenda, but she does end up falling for Aston. There is a beautiful bond that the three women share. Blood doesn’t tie them all together, but there is so much more that does. Hosanna used to get a lot of affirmation and reassurance from her father, and now Leah and Chantrelle do that.
"Sir Lenny Henry has always been a massive icon to me; he’s a national treasure! I think the first time we met, it was just 20 minutes of non-stop laughter. He actually plays my father in this, Remuel Drake, and we have some major scenes together. He’s awesome!"
* Previously Yasmin Belo starred in the short films What Just Happened and Mother’s Cry (a visual poem).
Who else is starring in Three Little Birds?
Three Little Birds also stars Javone Prince (Cruella, Yesterday) who playsAston who is Leah and Chantrelle’s brother.
Also look out for Bobby Gordon (Hollyoaks) as the sisters’ new factory-worker colleague Shelton, and Arthur Darvill (Doctor Who, Broadchurch) and Beth Hayes (Mr Selfridge, Black Mirror) as Chantrelle’s employers Mr and Mrs Wantage. Also look out for former Corrie star Denise Black as a neighbour.
Sir Lenny Henry will also be appearing in Three Little Birds.
Three Little Birds episode guide
Here's our brief episode guide for Three Little Birds which we'll update as the series progresses...
Episode 1
In 1957, sisters Leah and Chantrelle, along with their friend Hosanna as they move to ‘the mother country’ hoping for new opportunities, but no sooner have they stepped off the ship than they face resistance and prejudice. Leah and Chantrelle’s brother Aston, played by Dodger star Javone Prince, has arranged for them all to stop overnight in London’s Notting Hill on their way to the Midlands, but when their accommodation turns into a house party, tensions between Leah and Chantrelle are pushed to breaking point.
Episode 2
Leah and Hosanna are met with hostility as they settle in Dudley and the two question if they can build a life in the town when tensions rise.
Episodes 3 to 6
We'll be adding soon so do check back.
Sir Lenny Henry on creating Three Little Birds
On creating and writing Three Little Birds, Sir Lenny Henry told us: "My mum [Winifred, who moved to the UK from Jamaica in 1957] talked about what it was like for Black people coming to Britain. These were everybody’s stories and deserved to be memorialised. There’s something fairy-tale about crossing the water to a new country where challenges await. I cried all the way through writing. I’m so proud of it. That we’ve shared the post-war experience of rebuilding Britain and earned our place here. This is a show about all of us. Overcoming opposition was a Herculean task, and my hat goes off to my forefathers. The battle is ongoing.Lenny Henry found fame as a comedian and impressionist when he appeared on New Faces in the 1970s. He fronted The Lenny Henry Show in 1984 and was the most influential black British comedian at the time."
* Sir Lenny Henry and screenwriter Richard Curtis founded Comic Relief in 1985 and Lenny appeared in numerous TV shows, including Tiswas, Chef! and The Magicians. He’s since starred in several films, dramas and movies, including Broadchurch, Alive and Kicking, Hope and Glory, My Name is Leon, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and The Sandman. He also appeared on The Masked Singer UK 2021 as ‘The Blob’.
Lenny is a prolific TV writer too, having co-written Anansi Boys as well as Danny and the Human Zoo, Conversations with my Wife and Neverwhere.
Behind the scenes, locations and more about Three Little Birds
Three Little Birds was written and produced by Sir Lenny Henry, alongside guest writers Carol Russell and Avril Russell. The six-parter, produced by Tiger Aspect, was filmed in The Midlands, UK, in 2022 and early 2023. The drama was commissioned for ITV by Head of Drama, Polly Hill, working alongside Nana Hughes who is overseeing production for ITV.
The series is co-produced by BritBox International, with Diederick Santer as Executive Producer. Banijay Rights handle international distribution. Charles McDougall, Yero Timi Biu and Darcia Martin will direct two episodes each and Sir Lenny Henry, Lucy Bedford, Kate Crowe, Russell T Davies, Charles McDougall and Angela Ferreira serve as Executive Producers with Stella Nwimo producing.
