Last Tango in Halifax

Last Tango in Halifax

Company type	Television series
Industry	Television
Founded	20 November 2012
Founder	Sally Wainwright (creator)
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Area served	United Kingdom, United States (PBS)
Products	Television drama series
Parent	Red Production Company

Last Tango in Halifax is a British comedy-drama television series that was broadcast on BBC One from 20 November 2012 until 15 March 2020. The drama features Derek Jacobi and Anne Reid portraying the characters Alan and Celia. Conceived by Sally Wainwright, the production was handled by Red Production Company and filmed on location in Yorkshire.

Praised for its sensitive depiction of senior characters, compelling acting, and genuine dialogue, the series earned critical acclaim. A reviewer from The Daily Telegraph hailed it as "a triumph against TV's ageism," while an executive from the charity Age UK also endorsed the show. Last Tango in Halifax received four nominations at the 2013 British Academy Television Awards, securing the award for British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series.

Overview

Alan Buttershaw and Celia Dawson, both widowers in their seventies, shared a youthful attraction during the 1950s but never pursued a relationship before Celia relocated. Reconnected decades later through Facebook at their grandchildren’s encouragement, Alan confesses his enduring love, whereas Celia is portrayed as "unfulfilled" due to an unhappy marriage. Their renewed romance highlights "the uplifting power of love at any age."

The narrative contrasts their relationship with the struggles experienced by their adult daughters. Alan’s daughter Gillian is a widowed farmer who supplements her income by working part-time at a supermarket, while Celia’s daughter Caroline, an Oxford graduate, leads an esteemed private school. Their parents' engagement affects them differently: Gillian worries about coping without her father’s presence, and Caroline, dealing with depression and her feelings for a female colleague, finds inspiration in her mother’s unconventional love story to embrace her own identity.

Concept and writing

Primary writer Sally Wainwright drew upon personal experiences, describing this project as "the most personal thing I've ever written." Her mother reconnected with a childhood acquaintance via Friends Reunited after six decades, culminating in marriage within six months. Wainwright shared this narrative with executive producer Nicola Shindler, who encouraged its adaptation into a television series.

The show explores LGBT themes through Caroline’s storyline, including her same-sex relationship and coming out journey. Anne Reid observed that Celia’s character confronts generational homophobia by gradually accepting to maintain her relationship with Alan. Derek Jacobi noted Alan demonstrates greater acceptance than Celia. In the third season, Celia’s refusal to attend Caroline’s wedding intensifies their estrangement. Wainwright made a controversial decision to kill off Caroline’s partner Kate to heighten dramatic tension and character evolution, despite awareness of the "bury your gays" trope; she drafted alternative versions reflecting her conflicted feelings.

Characters and casting

Wainwright described casting Derek Jacobi and Anne Reid as selecting "the best." The Guardian praised the pairing of a "theatrical knight" (Jacobi) with a "TV stalwart" (Reid) as highly effective. Jacobi, typically cast in "posh" or "classical" roles, welcomed portraying an "ordinary fellow" and valued depicting a non-stereotypical romance between older adults. Both Reid and Jacobi influenced creative decisions; discovering Jacobi's ability to jive led to incorporating a dance scene. Jacobi also inspired a subplot featuring Alan's friends competing to serve as his best man. The younger version of Alan is played by Nico Mirallegro.

Reid was Wainwright's preferred choice for Celia and hoped the series would offer "hope to older people." She identified with Celia's outgoing personality but not her pursuit of new romance, describing filming as "one of the best times in my career." Amelia Young plays teenage Celia in flashback sequences.

Sarah Lancashire described the series as "very special," attributing this to the strong cast and its blend of warmth with humor. She related closely to Caroline as a working woman navigating life’s complexities. The cast felt like a theatre troupe due to their chemistry. Initially expecting only one season, Lancashire left another BBC drama midway to reprise Caroline, calling it her easiest career decision. The role brought her significant fan mail, especially from women inspired by Caroline’s same-sex relationship. Lancashire emphasized portraying the character’s humanity beyond sexuality and stressed authentic representation of gay experiences. Wainwright lauded Lancashire’s performances, which partly inspired her later series Happy Valley.

Nicola Walker completed the principal cast as Gillian, appreciating her honesty and depth. The role marked a turning point in Walker’s career. Despite initial concerns about mastering a northern accent, she embraced Gillian's contradictions—sexual confidence coupled with self-reproach—and praised the show’s mature storytelling alongside strong female characters. The Independent highlighted the significance of three leading women over 40 and subversive elements such as Caroline’s lesbian storyline.

Supporting actors include Nina Sosanya as Caroline’s partner Kate—recognized as one of television’s most normalized portrayals of lesbian relationships; Tony Gardner as John, Caroline’s ex-husband; Ronni Ancona as Judith, John’s lover; Dean Andrews as Robbie, Gillian’s brother-in-law; Sacha Dhawan portraying Paul, Gillian’s romantic interest; Josh Bolt as Raff, Gillian’s son; Edward Ashley and Louis Greatorex playing William and Lawrence, Caroline’s teenage sons respectively.

The second season expanded family dynamics introducing Timothy West as Ted, Alan's brother, and Gemma Jones as Muriel, Celia's sister. The third season added Rupert Graves portraying Gary, Alan's illegitimate son, alongside Michelle Hurst as Ginika, Kate's mother.

Filming

The initial season was shot across locations in Yorkshire and Altrincham between January and April 2012, with Altrincham doubling for Harrogate settings such as Caroline's residence. Production for the second season commenced in July 2013, featuring sites including Holdsworth House in Halifax and Hoghton Tower in Lancashire. In September 2013, students from the University of York's Department of Theatre, Film and Television took part as background actors. Filming for the third season began in July 2014, taking place in Yorkshire and at Peover Hall, near Knutsford, Cheshire.

By November 2017, a BBC representative indicated that there was no immediate filming planned for the forthcoming series due to creator Sally Wainwright’s involvement with other projects, notably the period drama Gentleman Jack slated for 2018 and a third installment of Happy Valley.

Broadcast audiences

When the series debuted on 20 November, it attracted overnight ratings of 6.16 million viewers, capturing a 25.6% share and securing the top position in the 9 pm timeslot. The finale of the first season on 19 December 2012 saw a peak overnight audience of 6.29 million with a 26.6% share. Consolidated data from the Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (BARB) revealed that the premiere drew 7.3 million viewers while the finale reached 7.48 million, resulting in an average viewership of around 7.32 million across the series. According to The Independent, these figures established it as the highest-rated new midweek drama of 2012. The show began broadcasting on American network PBS in September 2013.

Critical reception

Rotten Tomatoes reports approval ratings of 94% for Series 1 and a perfect score of 100% for both Series 2 and 3.

Critics responded positively, especially praising its focus on elderly protagonists in their seventies. Jane Shilling from The Daily Telegraph described it as "a triumph against TV's ageism," applauding Jacobi and Reid for their ability to combine "gravity and levity," which enriches the ordinariness of their characters.

Lucy Harmer of the charity Age UK highlighted the authentic representation of senior citizens, including their engagement with online technology, comparing it favorably to Hilary Boyd's Thursdays in the Park and the film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Caroline Frost writing for The Huffington Post drew parallels between the series’ dialogue and that of playwright Alan Bennett, emphasizing its touching exploration of managing everyday duties alongside personal aspirations.

Andrew Anthony from The Guardian commended both the writing and lead performances, while Jane Simon of the Daily Mirror observed a slight decline mid-series but praised Wainwright’s script and the core cast—Jacobi, Reid, Lancashire, and Walker—for crafting credible characters.

The American website AfterEllen offered a positive review, with journalist Jill Guccini describing it as "some of the finest television I've seen."

Following its acquisition by PBS, U.S. critics also responded favorably. Mary McNamara of the Los Angeles Times hailed it as "the best new show of the fall," applauding its blend of romance and contemporary issues along with Reid and Jacobi’s subtle performances. Matthew Gilbert from The Boston Globe initially skeptical due to its title, found it to be a richly textured series that benefits from Walker and Lancashire’s contributions to maintaining tonal balance.

Mike Hale of The New York Times offered a more measured view, calling it a "warm comforter" characterized by a distinct dry humor and a strong ensemble cast.

Awards and Recognition

The inaugural season of Last Tango in Halifax earned four nominations at the 2013 British Academy Television Awards held on 12 May 2013. Derek Jacobi, Anne Reid, and Sarah Lancashire were contenders for Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress categories, respectively. The series secured the British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series. Moreover, Sally Wainwright was honored with the Best Drama Writer award during the 2013 British Academy Television Craft Awards. The program also received a nomination for Best Drama Series at the 2013 Broadcasting Press Guild Awards, where Wainwright was recognized for her writing contributions to both Last Tango in Halifax and Scott & Bailey. In 2014, Sarah Lancashire and Nicola Walker were both nominated for Best Supporting Actress at BAFTA, with Lancashire winning the accolade for her portrayal of Caroline.

Potential Adaptations

In October 2013, Diane Keaton, an American actress and producer, secured the rights to develop a remake of Last Tango in Halifax for HBO. Sally Wainwright mentioned she would take on an associate producer role but anticipated having limited involvement. Nevertheless, Red Production Company indicated that the remake's progress might face delays due to the original series airing on the American network PBS. Subsequently, in April 2014, BBC Worldwide France partnered with production company NEWEN to announce plans for a French television adaptation of the series.

External links

• Last Tango in Halifax at PBS