TV series
Bread is a British television sitcom, written by Carla Lane, produced by the BBC and screened on BBC1 from 1 May 1986 to 3 November 1991. The series focused on the devoutly-Catholic and extended Boswell family of Liverpool, in the district of Dingle, led by its matriarch Nellie through a number of ups and downs as they tried to make their way through life in Thatcher's Britain with no visible means of support. The street shown at the start of each programme is Elswick Street. A family called Boswell had also featured in Lane's earlier sitcom The Liver Birds and Lane admitted in interviews that the two families were probably related. Nellie's feckless and estranged husband, Freddie, left her for another woman known as 'Lilo Lill'. Her children Joey, Jack, Adrian, Aveline and Billy continued to live in the family home in Kelsall Street and contributed money to the central family fund, largely through benefit fraud and the sale of stolen goods.
Availability
Checked Sep 1, 2026
Bread premiered May 1, 1986. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
Bread is a British television sitcom, written by Carla Lane, produced by the BBC and screened on BBC1 from 1 May 1986 to 3 November 1991. The series focused on the devoutly-Catholic and extended Boswell family of Liverpool, in the district of Dingle, led by its matriarch Nellie through a number of ups and downs as they tried to make their way through life in Thatcher's Britain with no visible means of support. The street shown at the start of each programme is Elswick Street. A family called Boswell had also featured in Lane's earlier sitcom The Liver Birds and Lane admitted in interviews that the two families were probably related. Nellie's feckless and estranged husband, Freddie, left her for another woman known as 'Lilo Lill'. Her children Joey, Jack, Adrian, Aveline and Billy continued to live in the family home in Kelsall Street and contributed money to the central family fund, largely through benefit fraud and the sale of stolen goods.
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Episode 1
The family talks about their dreams and what they hope to achieve in the future. Over breakfast discussions develop about working and what the individual members of the Boswell family do. None appear to have any sort of regular income except Adrian who is in real estate.
Directed by Susan BelbinWritten by Carla LaneGuest stars Pamela Power, Eddie Ross, Ben Davis, Josie Kidd, Janet Davies, Tony Scoggo
Episode 2
Billy buys a ring for Julie, but later learns that opals are bad luck and is told to get rid of it.
Directed by Susan BelbinWritten by Carla LaneGuest stars Roy Brandon, Pamela Sholto, Barbara New, Leslie Rogers, Barry McCarthy, Ishia Bennison, Pauline Chamberlain
Episode 3
Freddie Boswell makes a return to his family home. He gets a cool reception from his wife and children.
Directed by Susan BelbinWritten by Carla LaneGuest stars Ronald Forfar, J.G. Devlin, Robbie Dee, Tom Ryan, Georgina Smith
Episode 4
A photographer suggests Aveline should pose topless and wishes he hadn't. Jack makes an unsuccessful entry into the art world.
Directed by Susan BelbinWritten by Carla LaneGuest stars Ronald Forfar, Michael J. Jackson, Jackie Downey, Susanna Page
Episode 5
Freddie's sea-faring brother has died and the Boswells decide to arrange a burial at sea.
Directed by Susan BelbinWritten by Carla LaneGuest stars Ronald Forfar, Pamela Power, Pauline Chamberlain, J.G. Devlin, Al T. Kossy, Christopher Ellison
Episode 6
Billy finds out that he is to become a father, Joey learns of his dad's gambling debt, Adrian is made redundant, Aveline's nude pictures are published and Jack buries a stolen candlestick in his Grandma's grave.
Directed by Susan BelbinWritten by Carla LaneGuest stars Ronald Forfar, Barry McCarthy, J.G. Devlin, Charles Lawson, Simon Rouse, Noel Collins, Danny Cunningham, Tom Price
Episode information updated Sep 16, 2026
Available now in United States
These shows are available now and closely match Bread.
Peter HowittJoey Boswell
Jean BohtNellie Boswell
Bryan MurrayShifty Boswell
Jonathon MorrisAdrian Boswell
Deborah GrantLeonora Campbell
Kenneth WallerGrandad
BBC OneUnited Kingdom
