Three Families

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BBC Four

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BBC Four reflects arts, music and culture with an ambitious range of intellectually and culturally enriching programmes, taking an expert and in-depth approach to its subjects.

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Drama

The story behind the lifting of Northern Ireland’s restrictive abortion law in 2019.

In 2019, Northern Ireland’s restrictive abortion law was lifted. This two-part dramatisation tells the compelling real stories of the families behind the controversial campaign.

The BBC South West region started on 20th April 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South West.

BBC One South West

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Simulcast of network BBC One in high definition. From 03/11/2010

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The BBC North East & Cumbria region started in 1959 (tbc) as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One North East & Cumbria.

BBC One North East & Cumbria

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The BBC East region started on 1st May 1959 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One East.

BBC One East

BBC One region covering Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

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Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region that included London and part of the South region. Separated from BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

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The BBC South region started on 5th January 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South.

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The BBC West region started on 1st September 1957 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One West.

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BBC Northern Ireland region started on 19th April 1955 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One Northern Ireland.

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Simulcast of BBC One Scotland in high definition. From 14/01/2013

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Simulcast of BBC One Northern Ireland in high definition. From 24/10/2012

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Simulcast of BBC One Wales in high definition. From 29/01/2013

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Sinead Keenan

Lola Petticrew

Amy James-Kelly

Colin Morgan

Owen McDonnell

Kerri Quinn

Ger Ryan

Gwyneth Hughes

Alex Kalymnios

Chris Martin

Studio Lambert

Three Families: Series 1: Episode 1

Episode 1

Series 1

BBC One - Three Families, Series 1, Episode 1

A mother’s decision to help her teenage daughter has shocking consequences.

Northern Ireland, 2013. Under the strict abortion law in force here, a mother faces prison for helping her teenage daughter.

Northern Ireland, 2013. A mother is forced to question her own beliefs when her teenage daughter reveals she is pregnant. Intent only on protecting her child, Theresa makes a hard choice. But as word starts to get out, she discovers that she could face a prison sentence for breaking one of Northern Ireland’s most controversial laws. 

Young newlyweds Hannah and Jonathan are devastated when they learn that their much-wanted baby will not survive the pregnancy. In their grief, the couple speak to their doctor about their options, only to realise how limited their choices are.

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