If you thought Sarah Lancashire’s performance as Sergeant Catherine Cawood in Happy Valley was as absorbing as they get, you probably haven’t watched Last Tango in Halifax yet. The outstanding BBC drama comes from the pen of Sally Wainwright (which is already a good sign) and tells the story of two 70-somethings, Alan (Derek Jacobi) and Celia (Anne Reid), who reunite in later life – and, if you want our honest take on it, it’s even better than Happy Valley.
Inspired by Sally’s mum’s real-life story (it’s fascinating!), the BAFTA-winning drama is an uplifting yet, at times, heartbreaking story that portrays the all the messy complications of family life. While Alan and Celia give us a romance we can really root for, their dysfunctional families – including Alan’s daughter Gillian (Nicola Walker) and Celia’s daughter Caroline (Sarah Lancashire) – bring drama at every turn, and the result is a series almost everyone will find something to relate to in.
With the series available to stream tonight (or now, if you like!) on the BBC, here’s everything you need to know about Last Tango in Halifax before you watch it, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is Last Tango in Halifax about?
BBC
The romantic drama, which first aired on BBC One in 2012, introduces us to Alan (Derek Jacobi) and Celia (Anne Reid), two bereaved 70-somethings who reconnect after several decades apart. How do they find each other? Their grandsons put them on Facebook and the pair subsequently rediscover feelings for one another that are just as intense now as they were 60 years ago when they were in their teens.
While the story of their relationship is a celebration of the power of love at any age, their rekindled romance also presents challenges for their respective families. Alan’s daughter Gillian (Nicola Walker) and Celia’s daughter Caroline (Sarah Lancashire) are like chalk and cheese. Chaotic and independent, Gillian runs the family farm along with her teenage son, Raff, after the death of her husband. Caroline, on the other hand, is the headmistress of a successful school and is dealing with the fallout of her academic husband John’s affair.
Ben Blackall
Though neither daughter would ever dream of getting in the way of their parents’ happiness, we all know that life – and love – are never quite that straightforward and everyone comes with their own rather complicated set of baggage. Over the course of five series, we see the families deal with everything from divorce, illness, death and heartbreak – with retired lovebirds Alan and Celia always at the centre of the story.
Interestingly, the romance between Alan and Celia based on writer Sally Wainwright’s own experiences: in real-life, her mother reconnected with a former schoolfriend via Friends Reunited in her 70s – and the pair got married. Sally told the BBC: “It’s my mum’s story; this happened to my mum. My dad (Harry Wainwright) died in 2001, and my mum (Dorothy) came to live with us in Oxfordshire, in our granny flat. My sister helped her put her details on Friends Reunited, and she discovered just two people there from her year at school (in Elland, West Yorkshire).
Ben Blackall
“One of them was Alec Walker. He was also widowed, and living with his daughter in Northamptonshire. They started writing to one another, and then he asked if she’d like to meet up. They fell in love with one another, and got married within six months.
“It turned out Alec had always had a bit of a crush on her. They’d known each other since they were four, but they hadn’t seen each other since they were 16 when Alec’s family moved away to Harrogate. Alec was a delightful man; they made each other laugh endlessly. They were worried people would think they were daft getting married at their age, but nothing could be further from the truth. They were clearly in love with each other and the whole thing was just uplifting and life-affirming and joyous.”
Who’s in the cast of Last Tango in Halifax?
BBC
The main cast of Last Tango in Halifax includes:
Anne Reid (Riot Women) as CeliaDerek Jacobi (Hamlet) as AlanSarah Lancashire (Happy Valley) as CarolineNicola Walker (Annika) as GillianTony Gardner (The Escape Artist) as JohnDean Andrews (Number One Fan) as RobbieNina Sosanya (The End We Start From) at KateIs there a trailer for Last Tango in Halifax?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for Last Tango in Halifax below.
Is Last Tango in Halifax any good?
BBC
Yes – it’s a funny, uplifting and sometimes deeply heartbreaking series that ultimately reminds us that romance isn’t just for the young. The real beauty of the series lies in the fact that both Alan and Celia’s family come with baggage that many will recognise in their own lives, which makes it far more relatable than your typical romantic comedy. And, of course, we haven’t mentioned the impeccable performances from the likes of Sarah Lancashire and Nicola Walker yet!
How can I watch Last Tango in Halifax?
All five series of Last Tango in Halifax are available to watch on BBC iPlayer now.
What other Sarah Lancashire dramas can I watch now?
UKTV
If you’re a period drama fan, we’d suggest giving Upstairs Downstairs a watch. The reboot of the classic 1970s favourite transports us right back to 165 Eaton Place in London’s Belgravia where a new family – the Hollands – move in. Upstairs Downstairs is available to watch on U. For something more impactful, we’d recommend Five Daughters, which, in our opinion, is one of Sarah’s best crime dramas. The deeply moving series tells the stories of the five victims of the Ipswich murders in 2006 and focuses on the final days of the victims’ lives, the impact their deaths had on their families and the police investigation to track down the murderer. You can watch Five Daughters now on Apple TV.