The Onedin Line (1971)

The Onedin Line

The Onedin Line is a BBC television drama series which ran from 1971 to 1980. The series was created by Cyril Abraham. The series is set in Liverpool from 1860 to 1886 and deals with the rise of a shipping line, the Onedin Line, named after its owner James Onedin. Around this central theme are the lives of his family, most notably his brother and partner, shop owner Robert, and his sister Elizabeth, giving insight into the lifestyle and customs at the time, not only at sea, but also ashore. The series also illustrates some of the changes in business and shipping, such as from wooden to steel ships and from sailing ships to steam ships. It shows the role that ships played in affairs like international politics, uprisings and the slave trade.

The Onedin Line

Watch Providers

The Roku Channel
Tubi TV

Casting arrow_drop_down

Jessica Benton
Jessica Benton
as Elizabeth Frazer as Elizabeth Onedin
Peter Gilmore
Peter Gilmore
as James Onedin
Howard Lang
Howard Lang
as Captain Baines
Anne Stallybrass
Anne Stallybrass
as Anne Onedin
Philip Bond
Philip Bond
as Albert Frazer
Michael Billington
Michael Billington
as Daniel Fogarty
Brian Rawlinson
Brian Rawlinson
as Robert Onedin
Mary Webster
Mary Webster
as Sarah Onedin
James Hayter
James Hayter
as Captain Webster
Edward Chapman
Edward Chapman
as Mr. Callon
Jane Seymour
Jane Seymour
as Emma Callon as Emma Fogarty
James Warwick
James Warwick
as Edmund Callon
Jay Neill
Jay Neill
as Officer as Dockmaster as Harbour Official
Godfrey James
Godfrey James
as Jessop
Jenny Laird
Jenny Laird
as Ellen Jessop
Thomas Heathcote
Thomas Heathcote
as Fletcher
April Walker
April Walker
as Carrie Harris
Declan Mulholland
Declan Mulholland
as Mr. Simpson
Clifford Cox
Clifford Cox
as Mr. Watson
Mary Webster
Mary Webster
as Sarah Onedin
Cyril Shaps
Cyril Shaps
as Senor Braganza as Senhor Braganza
Alan Hockey
Alan Hockey
as Pilot as Chumley
Pamela Salem
Pamela Salem
as Emma Callon
Walter Sparrow
Walter Sparrow
as George Bethell as Billy Bones
Peter Childs
Peter Childs
as Clay
John Phillips
John Phillips
as Mr. Frazer as Jack - Frazer Senior
Richard Parry
Richard Parry
as Twinty Morgan
Robert Mill
Robert Mill
as John Frazer
Pamela Sholto
Pamela Sholto
as Alice
Ric Young
Ric Young
as Johnny Heave-Ho as Liu Chan
Roger Hammond
Roger Hammond
as Mitchell
Arnold Peters
Arnold Peters
as Dr. Collister as Doctor Collister
Steve Kelly
Steve Kelly
as Larson as Swede
Robert Gillespie
Robert Gillespie
as Drummond
John Kidd
John Kidd
as Agnew
Edward Dentith
Edward Dentith
as Captain Davies
Maureen Nelson
Maureen Nelson
as Mrs. Furlong
Reg Matthews
Reg Matthews
as Clerk
Windsor Davies
Windsor Davies
as Taffy
Gawn Grainger
Gawn Grainger
as Billy Boy
Ron Hackett
Ron Hackett
as Jacko Waters
Ruth Kettlewell
Ruth Kettlewell
as Waters' Mother
Mary Dennison
Mary Dennison
as Mrs. Waters
Roy Hanlon
Roy Hanlon
as Ginger Flynn
John Boxer
John Boxer
as Clipper Captain
John Scott Martin
John Scott Martin
as Seaman
Steve Peters
Steve Peters
as Head Waiter
Heather Canning
Heather Canning
as Mrs. Arkwright
Hilda Braid
Hilda Braid
as Miss Simmonds
Nicolette Roeg
Nicolette Roeg
as Ada Gamble
Pat Beckett
Pat Beckett
as Midwife
Anne Tirard
Anne Tirard
as Ethel
Chris Gannon
Chris Gannon
as Irish Immigrant
Kenneth Waller
Kenneth Waller
as Drayman
Brandon Brady
Brandon Brady
as Captain
Michael Brennan
Michael Brennan
as Bully Hayes
Anthony Sagar
Anthony Sagar
as Mr. Lyons
Frank Littlewood
Frank Littlewood
as Pocock
Damaris Hayman
Damaris Hayman
as Aunt Letitia
Paula Wilcox
Paula Wilcox
as Agnes Bascombe
Frederick Arle
Frederick Arle
as Jack Littlejohn
John Rapley
John Rapley
as Barman
Salvin Stewart
Salvin Stewart
as Crewman
John Lyons
John Lyons
as Crewman
David Garfield
David Garfield
as Dom Vasco
Kurt Christian
Kurt Christian
as Felipo
Lilita De Barros
Lilita De Barros
as Sarita
Barry Keegan
Barry Keegan
as M'Guire
Marc Zuber
Marc Zuber
as Peasant
Mario Zappellini
Mario Zappellini
as Peasant
Bryan Marshall
Bryan Marshall
as Michael Adams
Gary Ward
Gary Ward
as Billy
Gary Hope
Gary Hope
as Henry Chubb
Golda Casimir
Golda Casimir
as Kate
Phillip Ross
Phillip Ross
as Captain Goody
Nickolas Grace
Nickolas Grace
as Arab
John Franklyn-Robbins
John Franklyn-Robbins
as Garibaldi
John Line
John Line
as Sir George Pelham
Alfred Bell
Alfred Bell
as Alun Medcalf
Billy Hamon
Billy Hamon
as Jacky Clegg
Michael Menaugh
Michael Menaugh
as Manuel Santos
Grahame Mallard
Grahame Mallard
as Carl Strang
Rollo Gamble
Rollo Gamble
as Rear Admiral Spinks
Iain Cuthbertson
Iain Cuthbertson
as Captain Kirkwood
John Thaw
John Thaw
as Mr, Carby
Kevin Stoney
Kevin Stoney
as Vandoorne
Lawrence Douglas
Lawrence Douglas
as Loog
Rio Fanning
Rio Fanning
as Castle
Robert Fyfe
Robert Fyfe
as Evans
John Abineri
John Abineri
as Lescaut
David Morrell
David Morrell
as Pilot
Peter Jeffrey
Peter Jeffrey
as McPherson
Clifton Jones
Clifton Jones
as Eremasi
Tony Wright
Tony Wright
as Quennel
Neil Kennedy
Neil Kennedy
as Roper
Susan Chaloner
Susan Chaloner
as Melua
John Colclough
John Colclough
as Joby
Douglas Milvain
Douglas Milvain
as Hamway
Brian Young
Brian Young
as Gurney
Judy Nunn
Judy Nunn
as Woman
Alexander Duckworth
Alexander Duckworth
as William Frazer
Alan Tucker
Alan Tucker
as Jeremy Stirling
Joanna Cooper
Joanna Cooper
as Kate Stirling
Walter Horsbrugh
Walter Horsbrugh
as Doctor
Terence Lodge
Terence Lodge
as Dugald McCaig
Willoughby Goddard
Willoughby Goddard
as Ferns
Donald Douglas
Donald Douglas
as Major Morrison
Jeremy Young
Jeremy Young
as Fergusson
Norman Mitchell
Norman Mitchell
as Foote
Graham Rigby
Graham Rigby
as Mine Host
Michael Sheard
Michael Sheard
as Smethurst
James Dyrenforth
James Dyrenforth
as Captain Bullock
Juliet Marshall
Juliet Marshall
as Jane Bamber
Montgomery Brown
Montgomery Brown
as Bell
Sam Mansary
Sam Mansary
as Slave
Nicholas Loukes
Nicholas Loukes
as Crewmember
Nigel Lambert
Nigel Lambert
as Tranter
James Garbutt
James Garbutt
as Tapscott
Chris Tranchell
Chris Tranchell
as Brandon
Michael Segal
Michael Segal
as Captain Svenson
Jack Wild
Jack Wild
as Peter Thompson
Ivan Beavis
Ivan Beavis
as Tanner
Michael Collins
Michael Collins
as Thompson
Martin Grace
Martin Grace
as Martin Thompson
Rhoda Lewis
Rhoda Lewis
as Mrs. Taylor
Eileen Way
Eileen Way
as Old Woman
John Alderson
John Alderson
as Bosun
Dolores Mantez
Dolores Mantez
as Miss Indigo
Artro Morris
Artro Morris
as Captain Jones
Michael Crane
Michael Crane
as Dutchie
Paul Dawkins
Paul Dawkins
as The Lord Mayor
Frank Mills
Frank Mills
as Dr. MacWhirter
Dan Meaden
Dan Meaden
as Collector of Customs
Yvonne Bonnamy
Yvonne Bonnamy
as Miriam
Marcelle Samett
Marcelle Samett
as Old Crone
Pam St. Clement
Pam St. Clement
as Orderly
Noel Purcell
Noel Purcell
as Hennessy
Jack Woolgar
Jack Woolgar
as Bogner
Talfryn Thomas
Talfryn Thomas
as Thomas
Bill Stewart
Bill Stewart
as Hadley
James Mellor
James Mellor
as Brough
Tony Kenyon
Tony Kenyon
as Bartley
Richard Ireson
Richard Ireson
as Carlaw
Robert Hartley
Robert Hartley
as Captain Lubbock
Adam Blake
Adam Blake
as Edward
Claire Faulkenbridge
Claire Faulkenbridge
as Mary
John Caesar
John Caesar
as Clerk
Eddie Connor
Eddie Connor
as Manager
Charles Adey-Grey
Charles Adey-Grey
as Drunken Man
Richard Hurndall
Richard Hurndall
as Sir Walter Teal
Paul Lavers
Paul Lavers
as David Teal
John Hollis
John Hollis
as Corry
Alexandra Knowles
Alexandra Knowles
as Maid
Wolfe Morris
Wolfe Morris
as Suleyman Pasha
Carolyn Courage
Carolyn Courage
as Leyla
John Harvey
John Harvey
as Sir Charles Gray
Harold Goodwin
Harold Goodwin
as Chief Engineer
Jules Walters
Jules Walters
as Abdulla
Tony Boyd
Tony Boyd
as Hadji Ahmet
Kevork Malikyan
Kevork Malikyan
as Hadji Ahmet's Spokesman
Alan Wilson
Alan Wilson
as Sankey
Shay Gorman
Shay Gorman
as Delaney
Peter Longbow
Peter Longbow
as Wilbraham
Ian Elliott
Ian Elliott
as O'Riordan
Sonia Dresdel
Sonia Dresdel
as Lady Lazenby
Steve Gardner
Steve Gardner
as Lovat
Anthony Roye
Anthony Roye
as Fellowes
Don McKillop
Don McKillop
as Dorrel
Natalia Lindley
Natalia Lindley
as Maid
John Breslin
John Breslin
as Leon Say
Neville Barber
Neville Barber
as Felix Pyat
Michael Bangerter
Michael Bangerter
as Von Pranke
Leon Eagles
Leon Eagles
as Charles Delescluze
Lila Valmere
Lila Valmere
as Mme. Sousmain
Sean Bury
Sean Bury
as Jean-Paul
James Locker
James Locker
as Sir Richard Lazenby
Christopher Benjamin
Christopher Benjamin
as Said Ben Salim
Bruce Boa
Bruce Boa
as Captain Franks
John Rae
John Rae
as Doctor
Dorothy Gordon
Dorothy Gordon
as Midwife
Cliff Collingwood
Cliff Collingwood
as Bonny
Lorna Yabsley
Lorna Yabsley
as Mary Brannigan
arrow_drop_up

Seasons

Season 1

Season 1

Season 2

Season 2

Season 3

Season 3

Season 4

Season 4

Season 5

Season 5

Season 6

Season 6

Season 7

Season 7

Season 8

Season 8

Episodes season 1

  • 1x1

    The wind blows free

  • 1x2

    Plain sailing

  • 1x3

    Other points of the compass

  • 1x4

    High price

  • 1x5

    Catch as can

  • 1x6

    Salvage

  • 1x7

    Passage to pernambuco

  • 1x8

    The homecoming

  • 1x9

    When my ship comes home

  • 1x10

    A very important passenger

  • 1x11

    Mutiny

  • 1x12

    Cry of the blackbird

  • 1x13

    Shadow of doubt

  • 1x14

    Blockade

  • 1x15

    Winner take all

Episodes season 2

  • 2x1

    The hard case

  • 2x2

    Pound and pint

  • 2x3

    A woman alone

  • 2x4

    Fetch and carry

  • 2x5

    Yellow jack

  • 2x6

    Survivor

  • 2x7

    Coffin ship

  • 2x8

    'frisco bound

  • 2x9

    Beyond the upper sea

  • 2x10

    An inch of candle

  • 2x11

    Goodbye, goodbye

  • 2x12

    Bloody week

  • 2x13

    The challenge

  • 2x14

    Race for power

Episodes season 3

  • 3x1

    The ship devils

  • 3x2

    The stranger

  • 3x3

    Echoes from afar

  • 3x4

    Amazon cargo

  • 3x5

    Danger level

  • 3x6

    Black gold

  • 3x7

    Law of the fist

  • 3x8

    Ice and fire

  • 3x9

    A proposal of marriage

  • 3x10

    Over the horizon

  • 3x11

    The silver caddy

  • 3x12

    Port out, starboard home

  • 3x13

    The passenger

Episodes season 4

  • 4x1

    Loss of the helen may

  • 4x2

    A cold wind blowing

  • 4x3

    Not wanted on voyage

  • 4x4

    Undercurrent

  • 4x5

    Quarantine

  • 4x6

    Uncharted island

  • 4x7

    A clear conscience

  • 4x8

    Shipwreck

  • 4x9

    The gamble

  • 4x10

    Month of the albatross

Episodes season 5

  • 5x1

    When troubles come

  • 5x2

    Rescue

  • 5x3

    Coffin ships

  • 5x4

    The trade winds

  • 5x5

    The stowaway

  • 5x6

    Dead man’s cargo

  • 5x7

    A hard life

  • 5x8

    The hostage

  • 5x9

    Uncharted waters

  • 5x10

    A close run thing

Episodes season 6

  • 6x1

    No smoke without fire

  • 6x2

    Collision course

  • 6x3

    Double dealers

  • 6x4

    Stand by to go about

  • 6x5

    The upright man

  • 6x6

    The reverend’s daughter

  • 6x7

    Highly explosive

  • 6x8

    A sea of troubles

  • 6x9

    Men of honour

  • 6x10

    The fortune hunters

Episodes season 7

  • 7x1

    Liverpool bound

  • 7x2

    The homecoming

  • 7x3

    The paddy westers

  • 7x4

    Dirty cargo

  • 7x5

    To honour and obey

  • 7x6

    Running free

  • 7x7

    The suitor

  • 7x8

    Storm clouds

  • 7x9

    Outward bound

  • 7x10

    Homeward bound

Episodes season 8

  • 8x1

    A royal return

  • 8x2

    Revenge

  • 8x3

    Blood ties

  • 8x4

    The honeymoon

  • 8x5

    Jonah’s luck

  • 8x6

    The price of pride

  • 8x7

    Vengeance

  • 8x8

    Guilty - in all innocence

  • 8x9

    A long way home

NextFilm 2025