Sheridan Smith’s “engaging” period drama with Call the Midwife’s Jenny Agutter is streaming for free

by

Hey, if you’re looking for a cozy movie to watch with the family this holiday season, I just saw that The Railway Children Return from 2022 is now available to stream for free on Channel 5’s service. It’s a great pick if you want something everyone can enjoy!

This drama stars Sheridan Smith and Jenny Agutter, who returns from the original 1970 film, The Railway Children. The new film is a sequel to the classic, which was itself based on E Nesbit’s novel. Agutter once again plays Bobbie Waterbury, now a grandmother facing the challenges of wartime, just as she did in the first movie.

During World War II in 1944, with bombs falling on Britain, the Watts children – guided by their older sister, Lily – are sent from Manchester to the countryside of Yorkshire for safety.

What to Read Next

The children then go to live with Bobbie Waterbury (Agutter), her daughter Annie (Smith), and her son Thomas, who was also in the series Adolescence (played by Austin Haynes).

Living close to an army base, the family meets Abe, a wounded African-American soldier, who becomes a friend. He’s hiding a dangerous secret that could put both him and Lily at risk.

The Railway Children Return received mostly positive reviews upon its release in 2022.

In a review, Empire noted that The Railway Children Return offers a different kind of enjoyment than the original film, praising the performances of its new young cast as charming and delightful.

According to The Guardian, it’s a charming and clever homage to the simple, kindhearted nature of the original work.

In 2022, Jenny Agutter explained to Digital Spy why she decided to reprise her role in the sequel to The Railway Children.

She expressed a fondness for the thought of being an older Bobbie, someone who had lived through both World War I and World War II.

I suspect E. Nesbit, the author, would have appreciated this concept. Her stories often featured time travel and the amusing idea of bringing objects from the past into the present, where they create unexpected consequences.

The Railway Children Return is streaming now on Channel 5.

Love watching TV over Christmas? The Good Housekeeping Christmas TV Guide has you covered! It includes 14 days of listings and everything you need for a perfect festive viewing experience. It’s available now for just £4.75 at Morrisons, TG Jones, and other magazine retailers.

Read More

2025-12-23 23:49