World on Fire
World on Fire

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Premiered:
- Network: BBC1
- Category: Series
- Genre: Drama
- Type: Live Action
- Concept:Created by Peter Bowker
- Subject Matter: Period
- Tags: WW2
Plot Synopsis
WORLD ON FIRE is a multi-stranded drama series that tells the story of World War II through the lives of ordinary people from all sides of this global conflict. Season 1 of this series takes viewers across the first year of the war, from ordinary life in Manchester to the beaches of Dunkirk, getting right under the skin and into the hearts and minds of those living their lives during this extraordinary time as they grapple with the unthinkable: a world in flames.
Season 1 opens in Summer 1939. Translator Harry is working at the British Embassy in Warsaw, falling in love with Polish waitress Kasia. When German tanks roll into Poland and Britain declares war on Germany, Harry and Kasia are faced with terrible choices. With her life in grave danger, the only way for Kasia to be safe is to escape. Can Harry help her -- and if he does, how will he ever explain himself to factory worker and singer Lois Bennett, the girl he left behind in Manchester? As the Nazi threat spreads across Europe, Kasia must choose between love and fighting for her country, Harry must find his place in the world, and Lois seizes new opportunities the war throws up. The conflict overturns everything for Harry's snobbish mother Robina and for Douglas, Lois' pacifist father, and her firecracker younger brother Tom, who joins the navy and finds himself under fire in one of the first major battles of the war. In Berlin, outspoken American journalist Nancy risks her life trying to help her neighbors the Rosslers from the attentions of the ruling Nazi regime, while in Paris Nancy's nephew, medic Webster refuses to leave the city and the man he loves.
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WORLD ON FIRE had its U.S. premiere on Sunday, April 5, 2020 at 9pm on PBS (check local listings). Season 1 opens with war breaking out, and young translator Harry vowing to help his Polish lover Kasia flee Warsaw -- but how will he explain this to his sweetheart Lois, waiting for him at home in Manchester?
Cast
- Helen Hunt - Nancy Campbell
- Lesley Manville - Robina Chase
- Sean Bean - Douglas Bennett
- Jonah Hauer-King - Harry Chase
- Julia Brown - Lois Bennett
- Ewan Mitchell - Tom Bennett
- Zofia Wichlacz - Kasia Tomaszeski
- Mateusz Wieclawek - Grzegorz Tomaszeski
- Brian J. Smith - Webster O'Connor
- Parker Sawyers - Albert Fallou
- Blake Harrison - Sgt. Stan Raddings
- Eugenie Derouand - Henriette Guilbert
- Yrsa Daley-Ward - Connie Knight
- Agata Kulesza - Maria Tomaszeski
- Tomasz Kot - Stefan Tomaszeski
- Arthur Darvill - Vernon Hunter
- Charlie Creed-Miles - David Walker
- Victoria Mayer - Claudia Rossler
- Johannes Zeiler - Uwe Rossler
- Patrick Kennedy - Campbell
- Max Riemelt - Schmidt