TV series
The Onedin Line
1971–1980, English, on ORF 1 & BBC One. Created by Cyril Abraham.
The wind blows free
The Onedin Line is a BBC television drama series which ran from 1971 to 1980. The series was created by Cyril Abraham. The series is set in Liverpool from 1860 to 1886 and deals with the rise of a shipping line, the Onedin Line, named after its owner James Onedin. Around this central theme are the lives of his family, most notably his brother and partner, shop owner Robert, and his sister Elizabeth, giving insight into the lifestyle and customs at the time, not only at sea, but also ashore. The series also illustrates some of the changes in business and shipping, such as from wooden to steel ships and from sailing ships to steam ships. It shows the role that ships played in affairs like international politics, uprisings and the slave trade.
- Seasons
- 8
- Episodes
- 91
- Episode length
- 50 min
- Status
- Ended in 1980
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Where to watch The Onedin Line
The Onedin Line isn’t on a subscription OTT platform in India, but you can watch it free online.
The Roku Channel
Tubi TVAvailability in India as of 9 November 2026. Streaming data by JustWatch.
Latest episode
S8 E9: A Long Way Home
Aired 26 October 1980
Seasons 8
Cast & crew
- Cyril AbrahamCreator
- Jessica BentonElizabeth Onedin · 91 ep
- Peter GilmoreJames Onedin · 91 ep
- Howard LangCaptain Baines · 91 ep
- Anne StallybrassAnne Onedin · 29 ep
- Philip BondAlbert Frazer · 26 ep
- Michael BillingtonDaniel Fogarty · 23 ep
- Brian RawlinsonRobert Onedin · 21 ep
- Mary WebsterSarah Onedin · 13 ep
- James HayterCaptain Webster · 10 ep
- Edward ChapmanMr. Callon · 9 ep
- Jane SeymourEmma Callon · 9 ep
- James WarwickEdmund Callon · 3 ep
Details
- First aired
- 15 October 1971
- Last aired
- 26 October 1980
- Network
- ORF 1, BBC One, Das Erste
- Language
- English
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Type
- Scripted
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
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The Onedin Line: quick answers
Is The Onedin Line worth watching?
The Onedin Line doesn’t have enough ratings for a verdict yet.
How many seasons of The Onedin Line are there?
The Onedin Line has 8 seasons and 91 episodes, about 50 minutes each.
Is The Onedin Line finished?
Yes. The Onedin Line ended in 1980, so you can watch the whole story.
Which OTT platform is The Onedin Line on?
The Onedin Line isn’t on a subscription OTT platform in India, but you can watch it free online. (Checked 9 November 2026.)
The Onedin Line parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for The Onedin Line yet.
What shows are like The Onedin Line?
If you liked The Onedin Line, try Brookside, Hornblower, Black Sails.
Who created The Onedin Line?
The Onedin Line was created by Cyril Abraham and stars Jessica Benton, Peter Gilmore, Howard Lang.