''Betty's Bunch'' was a television drama/adventure series from New Zealand, produced in 1989. Aimed at a young audience, the story revolved around four foster kids living with Betty. Though things are not always easy financially for the family, they keep the spirit up. Things quickly become more difficult when they attract the attention of the two thieves Arthur and The Charmer. Soon afterwards, Betty is kidnapped and her foster children are forced to search for her, as well as avoid being separated by social services. The series was repeated on New Zealand afternoon television in 1993 and screened in the UK on Channel Four. The music and memorable theme tune was performed by

Dave McArtney David Ewan McArtney (5 April 1951 – 15 April 2013) was a New Zealand musician and songwriter. He is best known for his work with the band Hello Sailor and his band Dave McArtney & The Pink Flamingos. In 1989, McArtney returned to university, ...

of Hello Sailor.

Cast and characters

Main

Maggie Kirkpatrick Margaret Anne Kirkpatrick (née Downs; born 29 January 1941) is an Australian stage and screen actress who starred in the cult TV series ''Prisoner'' (otherwise known as ''Prisoner: Cell Block H'' in the UK and North America), where she was bes ...

as Betty * Sarah Ford as Megan * Anthony Samuels as Mick * Jessica Cardiff-Smith as Chrissie * Clayton Spence as Billy *

Paul Chubb Paul Dunford (14 January 1949 – 9 June 2002), professionally billed as Paul Chubb, was an Australian film, television and stage actor and scriptwriter primarily in genres of comedy and drama. Early life He was born in Arncliffe, a suburb of Sy ...

as Arthur "the Con" Quinter * Ken Blackburn as the Charmer

Guest

Rena Owen Renas may refer to: Places *Rena, Badajoz, a municipality in Extremadura, Spain *Rena, Norway, a village in Innlandet county, Norway *Rena, Washington, a community in Clallam County, Washington, United States People *Rena (given name), list of pe ...

as Shirley Gardner *

Ian Watkin Ian Watkin (25 January 1940 – 18 May 2016) was a New Zealand actor known for the films ''Braindead'' and '' Sleeping Dogs''. Watkin grew up in Greymouth, and started his career in theatre and radio plays, and working as a magazine editor befor ...

as Sgt. Meadows *

Frank Whitten Frank Edgar Richard Whitten (15 November 1942 – 12 February 2011) was a New Zealand television actor. He was more recently known for playing Ted "Grandpa" West in the New Zealand television show '' Outrageous Fortune''.Megahey, LeslieEsteeme ...

as Eagleton * Tina Grenville as Amanda

Episodes

References

External links

* at

South Pacific Pictures South Pacific Pictures is a New Zealand television production company. The company produces drama series, mini-series, telemovies and feature films for the domestic market and international market. SPP's largest property is ''Shortland Street'' ...

*
''Betty's Bunch''
at

Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision (Operating name for The New Zealand Archive of Film, Television and Sound Ngā Taonga Whitiāhua Me Ngā Taonga Kōrero.) is an archive that was launched on 31 July 2014, following the completion of a three-year process ...

1990 New Zealand television series debuts 1990 New Zealand television series endings New Zealand children's television series 1990s New Zealand television series 1990 in New Zealand television Television series by South Pacific Pictures TVNZ 2 original programming {{NewZealand-tv-prog-stub