TV classic ‘The Sullivans’: An all-star cast kept ’70s audiences devoted

It was one of the most popular Australian TV series of the late 1970s, attracting critical acclaim and kickstarting big careers.

Drama series The Sullivans followed the lives of a Melbourne family after World War II, and the detrimental effects the war had on them all, as well as moving and funny family moments. From a heartbreaking death of one of the lead characters to some classic comedy, it was a ratings winner.

Screening in half-hour episodes at 7pm, Aussies and people around the world tuned in and enjoyed the twists and turns of the Sullivan family’s lives. In the end, the iconic show ran for eight seasons with 1,114 episodes over its 1976 to 1983 broadcast period.

A lot of the success could be down to the leads of the show, Lorraine Bayly and Paul Cronin, who played husband and wife, Grace and Dave. The show’s casting was always impeccable, with a who’s who of Australian entertainers appearing or making their acting debut on the series.

https://youtu.be/2jbP9lSVtew

Dave and Grace’s eldest child John was played by Andrew McFarlane, while Steven Tandy took on the role of the second Sullivan child, Tom. Meanwhile, youngest Sullivan son Terry was played by Richard Morgan, while audience favourite Kitty was portrayed by actress Susan Hannaford.

Read more: The astonishing tale of a TV classic ‘The Sullivans’

Alongside the regular cast, there were some big names dropping in throughout the show’s run. Noni Hazlehurst and Michael Caton stole the show when they appeared, along with Mel Gibson and Kylie Minogue. Other notable guest stars included Kylie’s sister Danni, Sam Neill, Gary Sweet and Sigrid Thornton.

The series itself had some memorable moments, as Grace watched her sons go off to war, holding back tears through some difficult goodbyes. Actress Lorraine later told the Today show she had based her character on her own mother.

However, one of the stand-out moments was her heartbreaking death.

While still high in the ratings, actress Lorraine decided she’d had enough of the show and asked to leave. After intense negotiation, she agreed to take six months, so her character Grace still appeared on the show in pre-recorded segments showing her in London taking care of her wounded son, John. After the six months, Lorraine decided not to come back to the production, so in the most shocking moment of the show, Grace was killed in a bombing of the UK capital.

The TV hit struggled a little after her departure, but kept much of its loyal audience. It was planned to continue past the end of the war to show a post-war Australian society, but actor Paul Cronin decided to leave, reportedly triggering the end of the production.

Elsewhere, young Kitty proved a huge hit with audiences thanks to her quick wit. Actresss Susan has transformed in the years since the series went off air, and after disappearing for years from the spotlight, she recently reemerged as a property tycoon living a life of luxury in LA.

Read more: The Sullivans’ Susan Hannaford reveals lavish life, slams ‘fraud’ claims

As the program was set during the war, a lot of the major plots surrounded  real-life events. Researchers would look at key milestones in the war and use them in the correct timestamp of the show to bring authenticity. This authenticity didn’t just manifest with the war, as writers would read newspapers of the time and work in sporting results, national events, and even weather from the period into the show.

Were you a fan of The Sullivans? What’s your favourite memory from the show?