Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years

PG1981•1h 0m•6.3/10

Documentary

Ratings

🎬TMDb

6.3/10(4)

Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years is an 8-part 1981 drama serial based on the life of Winston Churchill, and particularly his years in enforced exile from political position during the 1920s and 30s. It was written and directed by Ferdinand Fairfax and Churchill was played by Robert Hardy. Hardy's brilliant performance as Churchill won critical acclaim and a BAFTA award in 1982. He reprised the role in The Sittaford Mystery, Bomber Harris and War and Remembrance and at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the end of World War II in 1995 when he quoted a number of Churchill's wartime speeches in character.

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Language

Status

Ended

First Aired

September 6, 1981

Last Aired

October 25, 1981

Where to Watch

Region US · Lang EN

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Seasons & Episodes

Select a season to view episodes. Reddit links may contain spoilers.

Season

Down and Out

Air date: 1981-09-06

When the Tories lose their majority in Parliament, Winston loses his spot in the cabinet. Deciding to take the opportunity to feather his nest he goes to America on a speaking tour and invests the proceeds in a a pre-crash stock market.

Politics are Foul

Air date: 1981-09-13

Churchill's views on the Indian question bring him into conflict with his own party.

In High Places

Air date: 1981-09-20

Churchill takes a European trip to visit famous battlefields and hopes to meet with Hitler but the meeting fails to materialize. The India question still rages in the U.K. Eager to win a victory on the India question Sir Samuel Hoare enlists the aid of Lord Derby to suppress certain unfavorable testimony, but one of the witnesses comes forth to Churchill.

A Menace in the House

Air date: 1981-09-27

Churchill asks the House to institute a committee to investigate the interference with evidence on the India question. But committee members Ramsay McDonald, Sir Louis Kershaw and Clement Attlee are unable to conclude that there's been any wrongdoing. The findings of the committee further damage Churchill's standing in the house.

The Flying Peril

Air date: 1981-10-04

Churchill sounds the alarm in the House of Commons that Germany is re-arming and that Britain is falling behind in the race for air superiority. Meanhwile Randolph Churchill backs several ill-advised candidates and Clementine goes traveling and meets another man. When Germany's air superiority becomes public the MacDonald government falls and Churchill works in the general election to return the conservatives to power. Although they are successful, Churchill is once again passed over for a cabinet position.

His Own Funeral

Air date: 1981-10-11

George V dies. Churchill continues to rail against the government's failure to adequately prepare for war. Wigram grows increasingly despondent at the prospect of war when Hitler occupies the Rhineland. Sarah elopes to America with a Jewish musical hall comedian. When the new king gets embroiled in a dispute over his relationship with an American divorcée, Churchill champions his cause losing yet more popularity with house members.

The Long Tide of Surrender

Air date: 1981-10-18

Churchill is completely marginalized following the election of Nevill Chamberlain as P.M. Chamberlain pursues a policy of appeasement and orders ministers to cut defense spending. He also brings a civil servant, Sir Horace Wilson on as an aide. Lord Halifax broaches the subject of disarmament with Goehrin which causes Anthony Eden to resign as foreign minister. After promising Churchill that there will be no more accommodations, Chamberlain flies to Munich to meet with Hitler on Czechoslovakia.

What Price Churchill?

Air date: 1981-10-25

Churchill's warnings come true as Hitler seizes Czechoslovakia and attacks Poland. Still Chamberlain resists admitting that it's to be war and that he must offer Churchill a position in the government.