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Complete Tenko

Tenko Season 1 Episode release dates & where to watch

Premiered

Thursday, October 22, 1981

Ended: Thursday, December 24, 1981

When does Tenko Season 1 come out?

Tenko Season 1 premiered Thursday, October 22, 1981 on BBC One and ended Thursday, December 24, 1981. The season has 10 episodes.

The first season, set in 1941-42, charts the drama from the women being captured and sent to live in squalor and deprivation in a Japanese POW camp.

Last updated

Tenko Season 1 release schedule

Tenko Season 1 episode release dates
Episode Release date

1. Shattered Dreams

SINGAPORE, 5 DECEMBER 1941: Due to lack of information from the Army and the media, most of the inhabitants of Singapore remain blissfully unaware of any danger in their lives. Then the Japanese land 400 miles north of the city and head south. Most of the women who will end up imprisoned are introduced: Marion Jefferson, Sister Ulrica, Christina Campbell, Nurses Kate Norris and Nellie Keene, Rose Millar, and Dr Beatrice Mason.

Thursday · 45 years ago

2. All Aboard

SINGAPORE, 10 DECEMBER 1941: The aftermath of the Japanese bombing of Singapore causes the evacuation of many of the British civilians in Singapore. Marion, Christina, Kate, Nellie, Rose, Tom (Kate's boyfriend) and Bernard (Rose's boyfriend) are evacuated, but the ship is torpedoed. Surviving the wreck, the group is taken prisoner by the Japanese.

Thursday · 45 years ago

3. Internment

KAMPONG GETAH, FEBRUARY 1942: Joined by others, including Beatrice, the women are taken to their internment camp, where a contingent of Dutch internees join them, including Sister Ulrica. Everyone makes adjustments to their new way of life, and Marion is made leader of the British internees.

Thursday · 45 years ago

4. What Would You Do For...

Ulrica is made leader of the Dutch internees. The older women worry when the younger women are unexpectedly removed from the camp, but it turns out they're being used for labor crews. Dorothy smuggles milk into the camp for her baby, but is caught, and everyone is punished

Thursday · 45 years ago

5. Malaria

Some time having passed, social structure in the camp is breaking down, and more women are becoming sick. Some groups refuse to help other groups. Malaria makes its first appearance, and requests for quinine are denied. Marion organizes education and entertainment committees, and arranges for the women to rebuild one of the huts into a sickbay. Morale improves, at least until two Japanese secret policemen arrive at the camp.

Thursday · 45 years ago

6. Rape

Marion is questioned about British organization in Singapore prior to the fall of the city. The new sickbay is completed. Blanche and Dorothy become friendly with the guards in exchange for cigarettes and tea. Blanche, Dorothy and Rose are cornered by three guards; when all six are caught, the Japanese commander accuses the women of lying about the almost-rape. Dorothy agrees with the him, causing Blanche and Rose to be punished, until their story is corroborated by other sources.

Thursday · 44 years ago

7. Unnatural Friendship

Sally, pregnant before her capture, is coming into her seventh month of pregnancy, and one of the nurses, Nellie, becomes very supportive of her. When the baby is stillborn, their friendship becomes closer, until they hear unwarranted rumors that their friendship is 'unnatural'. Judith Bowen has another attack of malaria, making Blanche wonder about all of their eventual fates.

Thursday · 44 years ago

8. Escape

Just before Judith Bowen dies, Marion promises her that she'll take care of Debbie. Blanche becomes determined to escape from the camp. Debbie discovers Blanche's escape plans and barges her way into the escape attempt. Rose covers the escape until she realises that Debbie is also leaving; she tells Marion, who tells the commandant in hopes that he will be lenient with Debbie. Blanche and Debbie are recaptured.

Thursday · 44 years ago

9. Five Hundred Hats

Punishment details are imposed on the camp in general and the escapees in particular. The commandant yields to Marion's plea for mercy for Debbie, and agrees to be release Blanche if the internees will make 500 work hats in the next seven days. The Dutch, angry that they are again being punished for British misbehaviour, insist that both groups should now be treated separately, until they discover that making hats will release Blanche. The commandant releases the internees from punishment details on the last day, allowing the women to meet the deadline.

Thursday · 44 years ago

10. Christmas Finale

Christmas is approaching. The work party reports seeing a group of men in the distance. When Marion asks the commandant for names of the men, the list causes both joy and disappointment. The women are told they will be going to another camp. The commandant reveals his long-time knowledge and support of the women's subterfuge to steal paper from his office. The women leave the camp, uncertain of their future.

Thursday · 44 years ago

Tenko Season 1 guest stars

  • Emily Bolton

    Emily Bolton

    Christina Campbell

  • Veronica Roberts

    Veronica Roberts

    Dorothy Bennett

  • Burt Kwouk

    Burt Kwouk

    Capt. Yamauchi

  • Renée Asherson

    Renée Asherson

    Sylvia Ashburton

  • Karin Foley

    Debbie Bowen

  • Joanna Hole

    Sally Markham

  • Louise Jameson

    Louise Jameson

    Blanche Simmons

  • Wendy Williams

    Wendy Williams

    Vicky Armstrong

  • Takashi Kawahara

    Takashi Kawahara

    Shinya

  • Elizabeth Chambers

    Mrs. Domenica Van Meyer

  • Jonathan Newth

    Clifford Jefferson

  • Edmund Pegge

    Edmund Pegge

    Bernard Webster

  • Ivor Danvers

    Jack Armstrong

  • Daniel Hill

    Daniel Hill

    Tom Redburn

  • Jeff Hardy

    Simon Treves

  • Ric Young

    Ric Young

    Father Lim

Tenko Season 1 FAQ

When does Tenko Season 1 come out?

Tenko Season 1 premiered Thursday, October 22, 1981 on BBC One.

How many episodes are in Tenko Season 1?

Tenko Season 1 has 10 episodes.

Are new episodes of Tenko Season 1 released weekly?

New episodes are released weekly.

When is the Tenko Season 1 finale?

The Tenko Season 1 finale (Episode 10) aired Thursday, December 24, 1981.

How do I get notified when new Tenko Season 1 episodes are released?

Download the Streambay app and follow Tenko. You'll get a push notification the moment each new episode is out.

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