Bed of Roses is an Australian comedy drama television series which was first shown on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) from 10 May 2008. It stars Kerry Armstrong (SeaChange and Lantana) and was created by Jutta Goetze and Elizabeth Coleman. It was produced by Mark Ruse (Kath & Kim, The Games) and Stephen Luby (Crackerjack).
Plot
Bed of Roses is about Louisa Atherton (Armstrong) handling her life after she discovers that her husband has died in the arms of another woman, leaving her broke. She returns to her home town of Rainbow's End to live with her feisty mother, Minna (Julia Blake). Rainbow's End is in a "growth corridor" with the neighbouring town of Indigo. Besides problems with Minna, Louisa encounters trouble with her teenage daughter Holly (Hanna Mangan-Lawrence) and local residents. Louisa has few financial assets except "Mary Kelly's Shack" which she inherited from her father. She decides to demolish the shack and build a new house to sell. Holly has taken the death of her father very hard and insists on carrying around his ashes. Louisa's irresponsible driving results in numerous traffic offences, which she can ill afford.
Production
The first season contained six 50-minute episodes, with the $5 million production being shot over nine weeks, mostly in the South Gippsland towns of Foster and Meeniyan, it took six years from its initial conception to final screening. It has distinct overtones of Armstrong's previous ABC-TV series SeaChange. Bed of Roses was commissioned for a six-episode season and aired on Saturday night on ABC at 7:30 pm, leading into The Bill at 8:30 pm.
The ABC ordered 8 episodes for season two. Bud Tingwell and Philip Quast joined the cast for the second season. Season two of Bed of Roses was filmed over five months in regional Victoria (South Gippsland), Melbourne and in the ABC TV studios, Ripponlea. "We knew whilst making series one that we had something special on our hands and so went straight into developing a second series. The audience response was terrific both on ABC1 and Podcast."
The Head of ABC TV Drama, Miranda Dear, on announcing season two of the hit drama, said, "Season Two of Bed of Roses is the story of a woman's search – and a community's search – for a workable identity in the 21st Century. It is also a love story. Because whether you're 80, 50 or 17, none of us is immune to that totally infuriating, confusing, heating, frighteningly vulnerable sensation that renders us smiling, crying, despairing, and hopeful, all in the same breath. Particularly when you're not sure which man you're in love with."
Season three, the final season, began filming in May 2010, and was filmed over five months in regional Victoria (South Gippsland), Melbourne and in the ABC TV studios, Southbank. For the second time the number of episodes increased, with season 3 having 12 episodes. It began airing on 4 December 2010.
Cast
Main cast
Kerry Armstrong as Louisa Atherton, recently widowed, returns to Rainbow's End. Becomes editor of The Rainbow Echo, responds to community issues, problems with Tim and Nick. Julia Blake as Minna Franklin, Louisa's mother, member of the Heritage Society. Renews friendship with Sandy, fights redevelopments. Caroline Gillmer as Marg Braithwaite, estranged wife of Gavin Braithwaite. Now a marriage celebrant, tries to gain Tim's interest. Hanna Mangan-Lawrence as Holly Atherton, Louisa's daughter, Indigo High year 11 student, works at Lim's. Now in year 12, becomes involved in local issues, misunderstanding with Sean. Jay Laga'aia as Nick Pickering, Louisa's old friend who runs Nick's Tyre Service. Goes out with Louisa, helps Holly with driving lessons. Andrew S. Gilbert as Gavin Braithwaite, hardware store owner, local councillor. Continues self-promotion, buys The Rainbow Echo, appoints Tim as manager. Kaarin Fairfax as Deb Mathieson, new friend, worked on The Rainbow Echo, looks after injured wildlife. Runs a wildlife sanctuary, because of conflicting work hours sees less of husband Trev. Tim Phillipps as Sean Smithwick, local footballer, undertaker's son, has a crush on Holly. Misunderstanding with Holly, drives undertaker's van. Dina Panozzo as Gemma O'Reilly, gym owner, old friend. Intimacy problems with husband Pat. HaiHa Le as Rita Lim, Rainbow Inn restaurant & Happy Nuggett mini-market manager, Gavin's girlfriend. Involved in community projects, new boyfriend is Chin.
Season two
Charles "Bud" Tingwell as Sandy Wilsoncroft, Minna's old friend, has Alzheimer's disease. Gareth Yuen as Chin Tsung Chi, trying to find an ancestor, Rita's new boyfriend. Philip Quast as Tim Price, new manager of The Rainbow Echo, Louisa's boss.