australian television information archive

A Woman's Place

Episode 1
Thu, June 25, 1992
Written by Doug McLeod, Andrew Knight
Directed by Ted Emery

Betsy Bligh and Elizabeth Macarthur are left behind to run the colony when their husbands join Reverend Marsden to go in search of the cannibal Mad Dog Fauntleroy.

Starring: Michael Veitch as Governor Bligh, Magda Szubanski as Betsy Bligh, William McInnes as John Macarthur, Gina Riley as Elizabeth Macarthur, Peter Moon as Reverend Marsden, Jimeoin as Griffin

Featuring: Steve Blackburn as Wentworth, Geoff Brooks as Blaxland, Jenny Hall as Mad Dog Fauntleroy

The Last Quoll

Episode 2
Thu, July 02, 1992
Written by Doug McLeod, Andrew Knight
Directed by Kendal Flanagan

Governor Bligh runs afoul of naturalist Joseph Banks with his strategy to combat bushrangers and his efforts to eradicate the verminous Giant Quoll.

Starring: Michael Veitch as Governor Bligh, Magda Szubanski as Betsy Bligh, William McInnes as John Macarthur, Gina Riley as Elizabeth Macarthur, Peter Moon as Reverend Marsden, Jimeoin as Griffin

Featuring: David Downer as Sir Joseph Banks

The Assassin

Episode 3
Thu, July 09, 1992
Written by Doug McLeod, Steve Vizard
Directed by Ted Emery

Following an assassination attempt on Governor Bligh, Griffin must act as a decoy until the danger has passed while Bligh poses as a common criminal in prison. As Griffin carries out Bligh's official duties, Bligh finds himself sharing a cell with a man he has refused to pardon.

Starring: Michael Veitch as Governor Bligh, Magda Szubanski as Betsy Bligh, William McInnes as John Macarthur, Gina Riley as Elizabeth Macarthur, Peter Moon as Reverend Marsden, Jimeoin as Griffin

Featuring: William Zappa as O'Connory, Lewis Fiander as Judge Adams, Gary Samolin as Prison Warder, David Glazebrook as Kingsley

A Visit Royal

Episode 4
Thu, July 16, 1992
Written by Andrew Knight, Doug McLeod
Directed by Kendal Flanagan

A Royal visit from the Prince of Wales inspires Bligh to commission a monument to mark the occassion. When a humble dung saleswoman that catches the Prince's eye, the Blighs work to transform her into a suitable bride.

Starring: Michael Veitch as Governor Bligh, Magda Szubanski as Betsy Bligh, William McInnes as John Macarthur, Gina Riley as Elizabeth Macarthur, Peter Moon as Reverend Marsden, Jimeoin as Griffin

Featuring: Peter Moon as King George III, Kim Gyngell as The Prince, Jane Turner as Mad Lottie, Jeremy Kewley as Public Servant 1, Doug Tremlett as Public Servant 2

The Real Truth

Episode 5
Thu, July 23, 1992
Written by Doug McLeod, Andrew Knight
Directed by Amanda Smith

Governor Bligh is outraged when newspaper owner John Macarthur publishes a series of libelous articles about him in the Sydney Cove Sentinel. The crisis causes Bligh to search for an honest man to be the new editor but the truth proves to be more scandalous.

Starring: Michael Veitch as Governor Bligh, Magda Szubanski as Betsy Bligh, William McInnes as John Macarthur, Gina Riley as Elizabeth Macarthur, Peter Moon as Reverend Marsden, Jimeoin as Griffin

Featuring: Marg Downey as Francis Rosebud

The Three Rs

Episode 6
Thu, August 13, 1992
Written by Doug McLeod, Alan Pentland
Directed by Amanda Smith

John Macarthur starts the colony's first private school. To prove the value of his own government school education, Bligh accepts Macarthur's challenge to a Tournament of the Minds, a quiz of general knowledge. With their reputations at stake, both men task their willing wives with seducing the instructor, Senior Cassanova, to obtain the questions in advance of the quiz.

Starring: Michael Veitch as Governor Bligh, Magda Szubanski as Betsy Bligh, William McInnes as John Macarthur, Gina Riley as Elizabeth Macarthur, Peter Moon as Reverend Marsden, Jimeoin as Griffin

Featuring: Peter Cousins as Casanova

A Small Plague

Episode 7
Thu, August 20, 1992
Written by Robert Adams, Brendan Luno
Directed by Amanda Smith

With a deadly plague ravaging the colony, Governor Bligh opens a new public hospital thanks in part to a generous donation by John Macarthur for a well-equiped... private wing. At Bligh's insistance, Macarthur also agrees to supply a new doctor. With both Bligh and Macarthur on their respective death beds after coming down with the plague, their only hope lies with Macarthur's overzealous German vet and Griffin's herbal elixer.

Starring: Michael Veitch as Governor Bligh, Magda Szubanski as Betsy Bligh, William McInnes as John Macarthur, Gina Riley as Elizabeth Macarthur, Peter Moon as Reverend Marsden, Jimeoin as Griffin

Featuring: Max Phipps as Dr McBryde, Simon Rogers as Dr Cheswick, Kirsty Child as Nurse

A Loaded Deck

Episode 8
Thu, August 27, 1992
Written by Doug MacLeod, Steve Vizard
Directed by Ted Emery

Bligh outlaws all forms of gambling in the colony... until he begins to receive the government's share of the sizeable profits from John Macarthur's new casino. A high-rolling American bankrupts the colony forcing Bligh to wager Government House itself.

Starring: Michael Veitch as Governor Bligh, Magda Szubanski as Betsy Bligh, William McInnes as John Macarthur, Gina Riley as Elizabeth Macarthur, Peter Moon as Reverend Marsden, Jimeoin as Griffin

Featuring: Denis Moore as Scapone, William Gluth as Captain Thomas

With: Lou Toth, David Glazebrook, Les Toth, Jack Parks, Gwendolen De Lacy, Jane Dalli, Joy-Louise Antonie

The Slap of the Writ

Episode 9
Thu, September 03, 1992
Written by ...
Directed by ...

... ... ...

Starring: Michael Veitch as Governor Bligh, Magda Szubanski as Betsy Bligh, William McInnes as John Macarthur, Gina Riley as Elizabeth Macarthur, Peter Moon as Reverend Marsden, Jimeoin as Griffin

Featuring: ...

With: ...

The Vision

Episode 10
Thu, September 10, 1992
Written by Andrew Knight, Doug McLeod
Directed by Ted Emery

The arrival of a Catholic priest, Father Patrick Declan O'Brien, raises concerns for Governor Bligh. Macarthur comes up with a scheme to build his own church for its tax-exempt status and convinces Bligh that the Catholics are planning an uprising. Betsy Bligh receives a calling from God.

Starring: Michael Veitch as Governor Bligh, Magda Szubanski as Betsy Bligh, William McInnes as John Macarthur, Gina Riley as Elizabeth Macarthur, Peter Moon as Reverend Marsden, Jimeoin as Griffin

Featuring: Gerard Kennedy as Father O'Brien

Fair Trade and Free

Episode 11
Thu, September 17, 1992
Written by Andrew Knight, Doug McLeod
Directed by Ted Emery

The arrival of the French during a time of famine creates a crisis when Macarthur sells them his sheep putting Bligh in a bind when he tries to impress the French captain by inviting him to a lavish banquet in hopes of gaining a trade advantage.

Starring: Michael Veitch as Governor Bligh, Magda Szubanski as Betsy Bligh, William McInnes as John Macarthur, Gina Riley as Elizabeth Macarthur, Peter Moon as Reverend Marsden, Jimeoin as Griffin

Featuring: Max Phipps as Le Perouse, Marg Downey as Yvette

The First Treaty

Episode 12
Thu, September 24, 1992
Written by Brendan Luno, Peter Moon
Directed by Amanda Smith

With the colony struggling amidst a record drought, Governor Bligh seeks to forge a treaty with the local aboriginal population.

Starring: Michael Veitch as Governor Bligh, Magda Szubanski as Betsy Bligh, William McInnes as John Macarthur, Gina Riley as Elizabeth Macarthur, Peter Moon as Reverend Marsden, Jimeoin as Griffin

Featuring: Kylie Belling as Iora

A Moral Tale

Episode 13
Thu, October 01, 1992
Written by Doug McLeod
Directed by Amanda Smith

Betsy Bligh leaves her husband when he forgets their 20th wedding anniversary. With Elizabeth Macarthur also leaving her husband to "find herself", the arrival of moral crusader Thomas Bowdler forces Governor Bligh, Reverend Marsden, and John Macarthur to find new wives.

Starring: Michael Veitch as Governor Bligh, Magda Szubanski as Betsy Bligh, William McInnes as John Macarthur, Gina Riley as Elizabeth Macarthur, Peter Moon as Reverend Marsden, Jimeoin as Griffin

Featuring: Geirge Whaley as Thomas Bowdler, Beverley Dunn as Flora Betham