The Couch Critic Logo
The Couch CriticCouch Critic
TrendingMoviesTV ShowsListsReviewsWhat to Watch
LogoThe Couch Critic

Menu

TrendingMoviesTV ShowsListsReviewsWhat to Watch

© 2026 The Couch Critic

The Couch Critic Logo

The Couch Critic

Your go-to destination for honest movie and TV show reviews from a passionate community of critics. Join the conversation today.

X

Explore

  • Trending
  • Movies
  • TV Shows
  • Reviews
  • Lists
  • Games
  • About Us

Categories

  • Popular Movies
  • Trending Now
  • Upcoming
  • Airing Today
  • Movie Genres
  • TV Genres

Community

  • Guides
  • What to Watch

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Cookie Policy
  • RSS Feed
© 2026 The Couch Critic.•Built by Hayden Thorn
Cookie Settings
The Movie Database

This application uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.

Bread
Bread
  1. TV Shows
  2. Bread

Bread

1986
Comedy

Status

Ended

Release

1986 - 1991

Seasons / Eps

7 / 74

Where to Watch

Streaming availability by country

Provider type

No streaming options available

We couldn't find any streaming, rent, or buy options for this content in US

Streaming data provided byJustWatch
Updated daily

Storyline

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.

Score Distribution

Details

Status
Ended
Seasons
7
Episodes
74
Runtime
0m
Avg. Episode Runtime
30m
Release Date
May 1, 1986
Last Air Date
Nov 3, 1991
Languages
English
Created By
Carla Lane
Carla Lane
Director
Robin Nash
John B. Hobbs
Susan Belbin

Top Cast

192 Cast Members

Jean Boht

Jean Boht

Nellie Boswell

74 Episodes

Nick Conway

Billy Boswell

74 Episodes

Jonathon Morris

Jonathon Morris

Adrian Boswell

74 Episodes

Kenneth Waller

Kenneth Waller

Grandad

74 Episodes

Ronald Forfar

Freddie Boswell

62 Episodes

Victor McGuire

Victor McGuire

Jack Boswell

61 Episodes

Bryan Murray

Bryan Murray

Shifty Boswell

49 Episodes

Giles Watling

Oswald

43 Episodes

Hilary Crowson

Julie

41 Episodes

Peter Howitt

Peter Howitt

Joey Boswell

39 Episodes

Gilly Coman

Gilly Coman

Aveline Boswell

39 Episodes

Eileen Pollock

Eileen Pollock

Lilo Lill

38 Episodes

Graham Bickley

Joey Boswell

35 Episodes

Melanie Hill

Melanie Hill

Aveline Boswell

35 Episodes

Pamela Power

Martina

23 Episodes

Deborah Grant

Deborah Grant

Leonora Campbell

21 Episodes

Peter Byrne

Peter Byrne

Derek

20 Episodes

Joanna Phillips-Lane

Roxy

15 Episodes

Caroline Milmoe

Caroline Milmoe

Julie Jefferson

12 Episodes

Jenny Jay

Carmen

12 Episodes

Similar Shows