The Patriots (TV series)


The Patriots was an Australian television drama mini-series. A period-drama, it aired for 10 episodes on ABC in 1962.
Australian TV drama was relatively rare at the time. This was among a series of period dramas produced by the broadcaster, being preceded by Stormy Petrel and The Outcasts, and followed by The Hungry Ones. The first two had been written by Rex Rienits but this one was written by Phillip Grenville Mann.
The cast included James Condon as William Charles Wentworth, who gets into trouble while running a newspaper called The Australian.
Telerecordings of the episodes are held by National Archives of Australia.

Premise

William Wentworth runs a newspaper which brings him into conflict with Governor Darling.

Cast

Ep 1 - May 27, June 10
In January 1962 the ABC announced it would make a third historical series, an unofficial sequel to Stormy Petrel and The Outcasts.
The series aired in June.

Reception

The Austrralian Women's Weekly said she "thought "The Patriots" was a wonderful story that could have had added excitement if it had been played at a quicker pace. I wish it had been done in five one-hour episodes."