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|OriginalAirDate=11 December 2012
|OriginalAirDate=11 December 2012
|Aux2=7.334
|Aux2=7.334
|ShortSummary= Alan and Celia spend a night in the stately home. Gillian and Caroline are unable to make contact with their parents, who have lost mobile phone signal. Gillian's worry prompts Raff and Robbie to visit and they become closer. Caroline spends the night at Gillian's whilst awaiting news of Alan and Celia and the two woman bond over their fears and their respective problems with children and partners. Paul works out that Alan and Celia may have been visiting the Stately Home and the police eventually find them. Caroline grows frustrated with John and admits to seeing an unnamed other.
|ShortSummary= Alan and Celia spend a night in the stately home. Gillian and Caroline are unable to make contact with their parents, who have lost mobile phone signal. Gillian's worry prompts Raff and Robbie to visit and they become closer. Caroline spends the night at Gillian's whilst awaiting news of Alan and Celia and the two women bond over their fears and their respective problems with children and partners. Paul works out that Alan and Celia may have been visiting the stately home and the police eventually find them. Caroline grows frustrated with John and admits to seeing an unnamed other.
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|OriginalAirDate=18 December 2012
|OriginalAirDate=18 December 2012
|Aux2=7.492
|Aux2=7.492
|ShortSummary= Alan confides his darkest secret to Celia: that when Gillian's abusive husband Eddie comitted suicide he refrained from calling an ambulance and that he holds himself partly responsible for the man's death. Caroline meanwhile, prepares to go public about her lesbian relationship with Kate. Whilst William had suspected the relationship and is happy for her, Lawrence (Louis Greatorex), her younger son, is upset and confused. Caroline's birthday evening with Kate and her two son's is ruined by the arrival of an extremly drunk Judith, who ends up in [[Accident and Emergency]]. John discovers that Caroline is seing Kate, and informs Celia.
|ShortSummary= Alan confides his darkest secret to Celia: that when Gillian's abusive husband Eddie comitted suicide he refrained from calling an ambulance and that he holds himself partly responsible for the man's death. Caroline meanwhile, prepares to go public about her lesbian relationship with Kate. Whilst William had suspected the relationship and is happy for her, Lawrence (Louis Greatorex), her younger son, is upset and confused. Caroline's birthday evening with Kate and her two sons is ruined by the arrival of an extremly drunk Judith, who ends up in [[Accident and Emergency]]. John discovers that Caroline is seeing Kate, and informs Celia.
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Revision as of 17:48, 27 April 2013

Last Tango in Halifax
Title Card
GenreRomantic drama
Written bySally Wainwright
StarringDerek Jacobi
Anne Reid
Sarah Lancashire
Nicola Walker
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producerNicola Shindler
Production locationYorkshire
Running time60 minutes
Production companyRed Production Company
Original release
NetworkBBC One
Release20 November 2012 (2012-11-20) –
present

Last Tango in Halifax is a British romantic drama series that first aired on BBC One on 20 November 2012. The series was written by Sally Wainwright, who was inspired by witnessing the happiness her mother's second marriage brought her late in life. Last Tango in Halifax stars Derek Jacobi and Anne Reid as two widowed and retired septuagenarians, Alan and Celia. Alan and Celia were childhood sweethearts, though were estranged for sixty years. Upon re-uniting via the social networking site Facebook, they meet up, fall in love and plan to get married. Reid and Jacobi enjoyed having the chance to play out a love story between older people that wasn't ageist or stereotyped.

Sarah Lancashire and Nicola Walker also have starring roles as Caroline, Celia's daughter, and Gillian, Alan's daughter. Whilst the love story between Celia and Alan is largely biographical, an element of conflict was added amongst their families to provide dramatic effect. Other recurring characters are played by Nina Sosanya, Tony Gardner, Ronni Ancona, Dean Andrews and Sacha Dhawan.

Last Tango in Halifax's strong ratings ensured that a second series was commissioned. The series has also been praised for its depiction of the older generation, the strong acting and the believable dialogue. A critic for The Daily Telegraph summarised the series as "a triumph against TV's ageism" whilst it has also been endorsed by an executive member of the charity Age UK. Last Tango in Halifax has accrued four nominations for the upcoming 2013 British Academy Television Awards.

Overview

Celia Dawson and Alan Buttershaw are both widowed and in their seventies. They had had feelings for each other in the 1950s, though they were never acted upon and the two grew apart. In the present day they are re-united after both being persuaded to join Facebook by their respective grandchildren.[1] Alan has "loved Celia since he was 16 years old"[2] whilst Celia is described as a woman who is "unfulfilled" having been unhappily married to a man she grew to hate.[2] After re-encountering each other, Alan and Celia discover that they still feel as passionately for each other as they did when they were teenagers. Celia and Alan's story is described in press material as a testament of the "uplifting power of love at any age".[1]

Alan and Celia's romance is depicted alongside the troubles of their own grown up daughters; the series' press pack describes the portrayal of family as being "as dark as it is comic".[1] Alan's daughter Gillian and Celia's daughter Caroline are complete opposites; widowed Gillian runs a farm and works part-time in a supermarket,[2] whilst Oxford-educated[2] Caroline is headmistress of a successful school.[1] Their parent's engagement affects both daughters lives; Gillian wonders how she and her son will cope without her father around to help;[3] whilst Caroline, struggling with depression and her feelings for a female colleague, feels her mother's unconventional romance gives her "‘permission’ to finally admit to being who she really is."[4]

Production

Concept and writing

The series is directly based on lead writer Sally Wainwright's personal experiences,[5] with Wainwright describing it as "the most personal thing I’ve ever written".[6] Wainwright's mother, Dorothy, had lost contact with a childhood friend called Alec Walker[5] when she was 15 but reconnected with him on the website Friends Reunited sixty years later.[6] Within six months, the two widowers were married. Wainwright states that the relationship between her mother and Alec "was so beautiful and uplifting that it inspired everyone around them".[6] When she told the story to her colleague Nicola Shindler, Shindler suggested that Wainwright turn her experience into a television series. Shindler became Last Tango in Halifax' executive producer and according to Wainwright the script was sold "instantly".[6]

The character of Celia is based directly on Dorothy, with Wainwright noting that her mother "became so passionate and emotional" after falling in love again.[6] Certain scenes in the series are based on true events. In one episode Celia and Alan are shown laughing at an argument between Caroline and her husband in the next room; Wainwright recalls discovering her mother and step-father in the same situation after having had an argument with her husband Austin.[6] Caroline's discomfort at Celia discussing her sex life is also based on a conversation Wainwright had with her mother. Dorothy's husband died three years into their marriage, but according to Wainwright she was "delighted" to have their relationship dramatised, with Wainwright believing Last Tango in Halifax to be "a celebration of how fantastic the whole thing was".[6]

Though largely biographical, the series does contain some invented storylines. In real life, Alec and Dorothy's families had a good relationship from the start whereas in the TV series, Caroline and Gillian initially have a feud.[6] Whilst Jacobi and Reid's storyline is predominantly uplifting, the actions of their onscreen families was intended to provide a contrast. In regards to Alan and Celia's dysfunctional families, Wainwright states that they "bring drama and chaos at every turn" and that the series aims to "get under the skin of these characters".[5]

After the series recieived strong viewing figures, Ben Stephenson, controller of BBC One, announced that Last Tango in Halifax would return for a second series.[7]

Casting

Derek Jacobi, renowned for his theatre work, enjoyed the chance to explore a different character.

Discussing the casting of Derek Jacobi and Anne Reid, Wainwright states that "we went for the best and we got them".[5] UK Newspaper The Guardian felt that one of the series' successes was the unlikely casting of a "theatrical knight" (Jacobi) and a "TV Stalwart" (Reid).[8] Reid was Wainwright's personal choice for the role of Celia, describing the actress as "so down to earth and compelling to watch".[6] Reid had tired of playing older characters for whom their age was a defining characteristic, stating that she had been sent lots of scripts where "where the minute anyone’s over 65, they turn into a doddering old idiot".[9] She hoped that Last Tango in Halifax would "give hope to older people",[10] opining that the relationship between Celia and Alan was free from ageism.[9] Reid identified herself with Celia's personality — believing herself to be quite reckless and outgoing [11]— though stated that unlike her character she has no desire to enter another relationship.[10] She enjoyed working with her friend Sarah Lancashire, who previously played her on-screen daughter in Rose and Maloney, suggesting that the two share similar looks.[9] Reid described filming the series as "one of the best times in my career" and stated that she was proud of the work put in.[2] Amelia Young plays a teenage Celia during a flashback sequence in episode six.[12]

Wainwright had not anticipated being able to secure an actor of sir Derek Jacobi's calibre for the role of Alan, stating that she "never imagined getting someone like him in one of my dramas" belieiving him to be in "a different stratosphere".[6] Upon casting Jacobi, Wainright felt that in addition to looking similar to Alec Walker, Jacobi embodied his personality perfectly, particularly his sense of humour.[6] Jacobi enjoyed having the chance to play a character completely different from those he usually plays. He also felt the series provided a chance to depict a "love story between two older characters that isn’t patronising or stereotyped in any way".[2] Wainwright felt that the two lead actors had a palpable chemistry that reflected her mother's second marriage.[5][6] Reid and Jacobi also influenced the creative process — after Reid discovered Jacobi could jive, they implored Wainright to include a dance scene in an episode.[5][13] Jacobi also inspired a scene in which two of Alan's friends (played by Roy Barraclough and Paul Copley[14]) vie to be his best man.[6] A teenage version of Alan is portrayed in flashback by Nico Mirallegro.[12]

Sarah Lancashire and Nicola Walker star as Caroline and Gillian, the respective daughters of Celia and Alan. Both saw similiarites between themselves and the characters they play. Lancashire identified with Caroline being "a working woman trying to keep everything under control" whilst Walker identified with Gillian's tendency to speak before thinking things through, and also her deep love for her father.[2] Nina Sosanya has a regular role as Caroline's lover Kate, whilst Tony Gardner and Ronnie Ancona appear as Caroline's husband John and John's lover Judith respectively. Gillian's brother in law Eddie is played by Dean Andrews, whilst Josh Bolt plays her son Raff, and Sacha Dhawan plays Paul Jatri with whom Gillian has been having a relationship. The regular cast is completed by Edward Ashley and Louis Greatorex, who play Caroline's teenage sons William (the eldest) and Lawrence.[15][16][17][18][14][12]

Filming

The series was filmed in both Yorkshire and Altrincham in Greater Manchester. Altrincham was used to represent scenes set in Harrogate such as those set at Caroline's house.[19]

Episodes

# Title Directed by Written by Ratings (in millions)[20]
Sourced by BARB; figures show consolidated audience of first showing. 		Original airdate
1"Episode 1"Euros LynSally Wainwright7.03420 November 2012
Recently widowed Celia Dawson (Anne Reid) makes contact with Alan Buttershaw (Derek Jacobi) — an old romantic interest whom she has not seen in fifty years — on the social netowrking site Facebook. Celia's daughter Caroline (Sarah Lancashire) is surprised by the revelation, though distracted by her own romantic problems comprising her adulterous husband (Tony Gardner) and her own affair with a female colleague, Kate (Nina Sosanya). Alan and Celia meet up in Skipton, and immediately rekindle their friendship. Celia's car is later damaged in a car chase pursuit of a young man who has stolen Alan's vehicle. Caroline and Alan's daughter Gillian (Nicola Walker) clash on first encounter after rushing to collect their parents; both are shocked to discover that Alan and Celia have become engaged.
2"Episode 2"Euros LynSally Wainwright6.77927 November 2012
Caroline is worried that her affair with Kate may become public knowledge and considers taking back her adulterous husband, John. Widowed Gillian meanwhile, continues a reckless sexual relationship with Paul (Sacha Dhawan), a man half her age. Alan and Celia contiue to enjoy the new lease of life they have discovered and decide to buy a new sports car as an engagement present to each other. As the families come together to celebrate the engamement of Alan and Celia, Gillian's son Raff (Josh Bolt) is arrested for assaulting Paul whilst Caroline's son William (Edward Ashley) reveals to her that John is still in contact with his lover, Judith (Ronnia Ancona).
3"Episode 3"Euros LynSally Wainwright7.5084 December 2012
A badly beaten Paul moves in with Gillian, whilst her son Raff moves in with his father's brother Robbie (Dean Andrews), who blames Gillian for her husband's death. Caroline meanwhile, rows with John and is overheard by Alan and Celia. Caroline confesses to Kate that she finds it difficult to express her emotions honestly. Alan and Celia begin looking at wedding venues. A Church of England minister discourages them from having a church wedding as neither party has attended church in over thirty years. Celia and Alan discuss politics and religion and the liberal Alan is surprised by Celia's conservative views. They decide to visit a stately home, considering it a possible wedding venue, but become locked in overnight.
4"Episode 4"Sam DonovanSally Wainwright7.33411 December 2012
Alan and Celia spend a night in the stately home. Gillian and Caroline are unable to make contact with their parents, who have lost mobile phone signal. Gillian's worry prompts Raff and Robbie to visit and they become closer. Caroline spends the night at Gillian's whilst awaiting news of Alan and Celia and the two women bond over their fears and their respective problems with children and partners. Paul works out that Alan and Celia may have been visiting the stately home and the police eventually find them. Caroline grows frustrated with John and admits to seeing an unnamed other.
5"Episode 5"Sam DonovanSally Wainwright7.49218 December 2012
Alan confides his darkest secret to Celia: that when Gillian's abusive husband Eddie comitted suicide he refrained from calling an ambulance and that he holds himself partly responsible for the man's death. Caroline meanwhile, prepares to go public about her lesbian relationship with Kate. Whilst William had suspected the relationship and is happy for her, Lawrence (Louis Greatorex), her younger son, is upset and confused. Caroline's birthday evening with Kate and her two sons is ruined by the arrival of an extremly drunk Judith, who ends up in Accident and Emergency. John discovers that Caroline is seeing Kate, and informs Celia.
6"Episode 6"Sam DonovanSally Wainwright7.48019 December 2012
Lawrence accepts Caroline's relationship with Kate. However, Celia does not; her homophobic views shock Alan, who implores her to give Kate a chance. Celia agrees to meet Kate at a dinner party hosted by Caroline. However, Celia's bigotry and hostility towards Kate ruins the evening, leading Alan to call off the wedding and driving a wedge between Caroline and Kate. Caroline and Celia have a blazing row, trading insults and expletives. Celia realises that her behaviour had made her daughter unhappy and visits Kate, apologising for her own behaviour and imploring that she give Caroline another chance. Alan meanwhile, suffers a heart-attack. Celia realises that she may have lost everything and rushes to his bedside. They reconcile and decide the wedding will go ahead. The first series ends with a flashback to sixty years ago, showing the teenage Alan asking Celia on a date

Reception

The series premiered to overnight ratings of 6.16 million viewers, 25.6% of the available audience, was the highest rated show at 9pm on 20 November.[21] The series finale, airing 19 December 2012, also won it's time-slot achieving an overnight series high of 6.29 million viewers, 26.6% of the available audience.[22] Consolidated figures released by the Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (BARB) revealed that the series premiere achieved a consolidated rating of 7.034 million viewers,[20] whilst the finale had 7.480 million.[20] The overall series average in terms of viewing figures was 7.21 million viewers.[nb 1] The Independent reported that the early consolidated ratings received by the programme made it the highest rated new mid-week television drama of 2012.[7]

The series has attracted mostly positive reviews, largely focussed on the depiction of its two septuagenarian lead characters. Jane Shilling of The Daily Telegraph,labelled the series "a triumph against TV's ageism" in an examination of the portrayal of elderly people in the media.[23] Shilling singled out Jacobi and Reid's performances, stating that they provide a "mixture of gravity and levity" that "brings a transcendent quality to their characters’ resolute ordinariness". Lucy Harmer, an executive member of the charity Age UK, also praised the series for portraying two "normal, healthy and sane" older characters, citing the depiction of internet use by the elderly as something ordinary. She compared the treatment of older characters in the series to Hilary Boyd's novel Thursdays in the Park and the film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.[24] The Huffington Post's Caroline Frost thought that the series was reminiscent of the dialogue and sensibility of the playwright Alan Bennett. She felt the story was poignant and praised a central theme underlining "how many people make do with their day-to-day business and responsibilities, while still holding on to their private dreams",[25] Andrew Anthony of The Guardian had his "low expectations... squarely confounded"; giving particular praise to the dialogue and the central performances.[8] Jane Simon of the Daily Mirror felt that Last Tango in Halifax experienced a mid-series dip, though praised what she felt to be a triumphant finale. She praised Wainwright's script and the lead quartet of Jacobi, Reid, Lancashire and Walker for creating "characters you can believe in even when they’re behaving appallingly".[26] The series was reviewed favourably by American website AfterEllen, which reports on the depiction of gay and bisexual women in the media. Correspondent Jill Guccini stated that she "started off watching this series thinking it was a cute little show about some oldies falling in love" but at the end of the series believed it to be "some of the finest television I’ve seen, anywhere, ever".[27]

The first series of Last Tango in Halifax has been nominated for four awards at the 2013 British Academy Television Awards. Derek Jacobi, Anne Reid and Sarah Lancashire have earned respective nominations in the Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress categories whilst the series itself is nominated for Best Drama Series.[28] Sally Wainwright has also earned a British Academy Television Craft Awards nomination for her writing of the series.[29]

Notes

  1. ^ Calculated by combining the individual viewing figures for each episode, sourced from the Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (7.034 million, 6.779 million, 7.508 million, 7.334 million, 7.492 million, 7.480 million[20]) and dividing by six.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Last Tango In Halifax- Derek Jacobi and Anne Reid lead cast in a new drama series for BBC One". BBC Press Office. BBC Online. 13 August 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Cast interviews". BBC Press Office. BBC Online. 13 August 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  3. ^ "Gillian". BBC. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  4. ^ "Caroline". BBC. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Interview with writer, Sally Wainwright". BBC Press Office. BBC Online. 13 August 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Wainwright, Sally (9 November 2012). "Can you fall in love at 75? Screenwriter Sally Wainwright on how her mother's sweet late-life romance inspired her new drama". Daily Mail. Associated Newspapers. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  7. ^ a b Wyatt, Daisy (11 December 2012). "BBC One drama Last Tango in Halifax re-commissioned for second series". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. Retrieved 18 April 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  8. ^ a b Anthony, Andrew (25 November 2012). "Rewind TV: Last Tango in Halifax; Homeland; The Aristocrats: Blenheim Palace; Gadget Man; Supersized Earth – review". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 17 April 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  9. ^ a b c Brent, Katy (20 November 2012). "Two to tango". The Sun. News International. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  10. ^ a b Duncan, Andrew (20 November 2012). "Anne Reid: "I hope Last Tango in Halifax gives hope to older people"". Radio Times. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  11. ^ Fiaca, Nick (13 November 2012). "Anne Reid". What's on TV. IPC Media. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  12. ^ a b c "Last Tango in Halifax — episode six". BBC Online. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  13. ^ Fiaca, Nick (13 November 2012). "Anne Reid". What's on TV. IPC Media. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  14. ^ a b "Last Tango in Halifax — episode five". BBC Online. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  15. ^ "Last Tango in Halifax — episode one". BBC Online. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  16. ^ "Last Tango in Halifax — episode two". BBC Online. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  17. ^ "Last Tango in Halifax — episode three". BBC Online. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  18. ^ "Last Tango in Halifax — episode four". BBC Online. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  19. ^ Lancashire, Sarah (2 December 2012). "Last Tango in Halifax? Let's try Venice next time, says BBC star Sarah Lancashire". Daily Mail. Associated Newspapers. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  20. ^ a b c d "Viewing Data — Top Tens". BARB.
  21. ^ Millar, Paul (21 November 2012). "Cheryl Cole's ITV2 show attracts more than 800,000 viewers". Digital Spy. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved 18 April 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  22. ^ Millar, Paul (20 December 2012). "'Last Tango in Halifax' ends on high note for BBC One". Digital Spy. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved 18 April 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  23. ^ Shilling, Jane (11 December 2012). "Last Tango in Halifax: a triumph against TV's ageism". The Daily Telegraph. Telgraph Media Group. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  24. ^ Bennett, Laura (28 November 2012). "Last Tango in Halifax: an Age UK executive's view". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  25. ^ Frost, Caroline (21 November 2012). "TV REVIEW: Last Tango In Halifax — A Love That Blooms Late And Twice As Sweet". Huffington Post. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  26. ^ Simon, Jane (19 December 2012). "Wednesday's must-see TV: Family in a spin in Last Tango In Halifax plus The Town and Snow Babies". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  27. ^ Guccini, Gill (26 March 2013). ""Last Tango in Halifax" recap: Infected with Lesbian Spores (Ep. 6)". AfterEllen. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  28. ^ "Bafta Television Awards 2013: the nominations in full". Radio Times. Immediate Media Company. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  29. ^ Goodrich, Helena (25 March 2013). "Parade's End leads the BAFTA TV Craft Awards nominations". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
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