# Love Child (TV series)

Love Child is an Australian drama television series that follows the lives of staff and residents of the fictional Kings Cross Hospital and Stanton House in Sydney, starting in 1969 and continuing into the 1970s.
The program was created by Sarah Lambert and was first broadcast on the Nine Network on 17 February 2014. The program is based on the real-life forced adoption in Australia for which former Prime Minister Julia Gillard offered a national apology to those affected in 2013. Love Child was renewed for a second series on 2 March 2014. The series was renewed for a third series on 23 February 2015. The series was renewed for a fourth series on 8 November 2016 at Nine's upfronts.
In December 2017, Love Child was cancelled after four series.

## Background

On 8 April 2013, the Nine Network announced a new drama project from Playmaker Media named Love Child, an eight-part drama series by the creators of House Husbands. Joint heads of drama at Nine, Andy Ryan and Jo Rooney, stated "Love Child is a compelling and uplifting series that will appeal to every generation. The stories of young women and men fighting an unjust system are as relevant today as they were in the colourful and liberating world of Kings Cross in 1969." Love Child was created by Sarah Lambert. It is directed by Geoff Bennett, Grant Brown, Shawn Seet and Shirley Barrett, with Tim Pye, Sue Seeary and Sarah Lambert serving as producers. The series is also written by Lambert, Pye, Kym Goldsworthy, Cathryn Strickland, Giula Sandler, Matt Ford, Liz Doran and Vanessa Alexander.

## Casting

Jessica Marais, Jonathan LaPaglia and Mandy McElhinney were announced as the main cast members in April 2013. Marais stars as Dr Joan Millar, a smart and sophisticated trainee obstetrician who returns home from London to take a job at the Kings Cross Hospital. LaPaglia stars as Dr Patrick McNaughton, the charismatic head of obstetrics at Kings Cross Hospital. McElhinney stars as Frances Bolton, the tough matron who runs Stanton House, a home for unwed pregnant young women. The remainder of the cast was announced on 11 February 2014, with Ryan Corr as Johnny Lowry, a 60s flower child; Ella Scott Lynch as Shirley Ryan, a Russian socialite; Sophie Hensser as Viv Maguire, a country girl; Harriet Dyer as Patricia Saunders, a ditzy blonde; Gracie Gilbert as Annie Carmichael, a strong-willed mother determined to get back her baby; and Miranda Tapsell in her Logie award winning debut role as Martha Tennant, an Aboriginal girl who was also adopted.
Corr did not return as a main cast member in season two but made a guest appearance. Matthew Le Nevez, Lincoln Younes and Marshall Napier joined the cast for season two as Jim, Chris Vesty, and Gregory respectively. Leah Purcell played a key character in the second half of season two. Jonathan Lapaglia did not return for the fourth season. Dan Hamill joined the cast along with Matt Day, Danielle Catanzariti, Darcie Irwin-Simpson, Sophia Forrest and Ronan Keating.

## Cast
### Main

* Jessica Marais as Dr. Joan Millar
* Jonathan LaPaglia as Dr. Patrick McNaughton (seasons 1–3)
* Mandy McElhinney as Matron Frances Bolton
* Ella Scott Lynch as Shirley Ryan (seasons 1–3)
* Harriet Dyer as Patty Saunders (seasons 1–4)
* Sophie Hensser as Viv Maguire (seasons 1–4)
* Gracie Gilbert as Annie Carmichael (seasons 1–3)
* Miranda Tapsell as Martha Tennant
* Ryan Johnson as Phillip Paige
* Ryan Corr as Johnny Lowry (season 1, guest: season 2)
* Matthew Le Nevez as Jim Marsh (seasons 2–3, guest: season 4)
* Tiarnie Coupland as Maggie (season 3)
* Olivia O'Flynn as Liz (season 3)
* Jeremy Lindsay Taylor as Leon (season 3)
* Dan Hamill as Dr. Andrew Patterson (season 4)
* Danielle Catanzariti as Elena (season 4)
* Darcie Irwin-Simpson as Rita (season 4)
* Sophia Forrest as Debbie (season 4)
* Ronan Keating as Dr Lawrence Faber (season 4)
Notes
* ↑ Ryan Johnson was credited as main cast for the 5 episodes he appeared in during season 1

### Recurring

* Maya Stange as Eva McNaughton (seasons 1–3)
* Ben Lawson as Colin Ryan (season 1)
* Ben O'Toole as Pete (seasons 1–3)
* Lincoln Younes as Chris Vesty (seasons 2–3)
* Jessica June as Tania (season 2)
* Andrew Ryan as Simon Bowditch (seasons 2–4)
* Marshall Napier as Greg Matheson (season 2)
* Ian Bolt as Bob Flannery (seasons 1–2)

### Guests

* Aileen Beale as Mark Foy's saleswoman (season 1)
* Anna Lawrence as Maggie Flanagan (season 3)
* Ben Turland as Ronnie (season 1, 1 episode)
* Charlotte Hazzard as Helen (season 3)
* Helen Thomson as Eleanor (1 episode)
* Jessica Donoghue as Faye (seasons 2–3)
* Lucy Bell as Belinda Saunders (1 episode)
* Lucy Wigmore as Carol (season 1)
* Susan Prior as Geraldine Donnelly

## Episodes

| Series | Episodes | Episodes | Originally released | Originally released |
| Series | Episodes | Episodes | First released | Last released |
| 1 | 8 | 8 | 17 February 2014 (2014-02-17) | 7 April 2014 (2014-04-07) |
| 2 | 8 | 8 | 5 May 2015 (2015-05-05) | 23 June 2015 (2015-06-23) |
| 3 | 10 | 10 | 20 June 2016 (2016-06-20) | 1 August 2016 (2016-08-01) |
| 4 | 10 | 10 | 2 May 2017 (2017-05-02) | 4 July 2017 (2017-07-04) |

## Ratings

| Season | Episodes | Season premiere | Season finale | Peak audience (millions) | Average audience (millions) |
| 1 | 8 | 17 February 2014 | 7 April 2014 | 1.59 | 1.47 |
| 2 | 8 | 5 May 2015 | 23 June 2015 | 1.15 | 1.07 |
| 3 | 10 | 20 June 2016 | 1 August 2016 | 1.01 | 0.92 |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2015 | Logie Awards | Most Popular Drama Program | Love Child | Nominated |
| 2015 | Logie Awards | Most Popular Actress | Jessica Marais | Nominated |
| 2015 | Logie Awards | Most Popular Actress | Mandy McElhinney | Nominated |
| 2015 | Logie Awards | Most Popular New Talent | Harriet Dyer | Nominated |
| 2015 | Logie Awards | Most Popular New Talent | Miranda Tapsell | Won |
| 2015 | Logie Awards | Most Outstanding Newcomer | Harriet Dyer | Nominated |
| 2015 | Logie Awards | Most Outstanding Newcomer | Miranda Tapsell | Won |
| 2015 | Golden Nymph Awards | Best Drama Series | Love Child | Nominated |
| 2015 | Golden Nymph Awards | Best Actor in a Drama Series | Jonathan LaPaglia | Nominated |
| 2016 | Logie Awards | Best Drama Program | Love Child | Nominated |
| 2016 | Logie Awards | Most Outstanding Drama Series | Love Child | Nominated |
| 2016 | Logie Awards | Best Actress | Jessica Marais | Won |
| 2016 | Logie Awards | Supporting Actress | Harriet Dyer | Nominated |