Sometimes, all you need to feel better about your own life is a new dysfunctional television family, and Lesley Manville is the matriarch you’re going to love in the BBC’s highly relatable and underrated drama – Mum. The show follows Cathy (Manville), as she grapples with losing her husband, expect to laugh and cry in equal measures as you follow her across the series – that, dare we say, is even better than Motherland.

The drama opens with Cathy’s husband’s funeral, and it follows her family as they navigate the rollercoaster ride of losing a loved one. Like Motherland, it’s full of eclectic characters and familiar family moments – and there’s also a compelling ‘will they, won’t they?’ romance that’s threaded throughout the three series.

Intrigued? With the series available to watch on BBC iPlayer, here’s everything you need to know about Mum, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.

What is Mum about?smiling woman in blue striped shirt sitting on a swing in a sunlit garden.

BBC

The BBC sitcom, which first aired on BBC Two in 2016, follows the newly widowed 59-year-old Cathy (Lesley Manville) after her husband’s death. Series one starts with her husband’s funeral and each episode follows a different month in the year. The series ends in December on New Year’s Eve, after following Cathy and her family as they deal with the minor and major events of the year. It’s a beautiful story of a woman rediscovering herself, and maybe even finding love second time around…

The second series, which first aired in 2017, starts with Cathy’s 60th birthday lunch and follows the clan through to Bonfire Night, whereas the third series, which premiered in 2018, takes a different format, with each episode dedicated to a different day of the week. Joining the selfless Cathy on her journey to self-discovery are an array of eclectic characters, including her immature son Jason (Sam Swainsbury), and his girlfriend, Kelly (Lisa McGrillis), who’s somewhat lacking in social graces (she turned up to Jason’s dad’s funeral in a bright-red mini dress). Thrown into the hilarious mix is Cathy’s snobbish sister-in-law, and main antagonist, Pauline (Dorothy Atkinson) who severely lacks self-awareness.

three people smiling in a cozy kitchen setting.

BBC

Lesley Manville opened about what resonated with the audience after the success of series one. ‘People were really drawn to the programme. It straddles two styles very well. It’s a drama that can make you cry and feel warmth and sadness,’ she previously told the BBC. ‘But it’s also a comedy that makes you really laugh. That style and that depiction of ordinary people who are extraordinary is very appealing.’

Who’s in the cast of Mum?two people sitting indoors, one holding a champagne glass, with festive background decorations.

BBC

The cast of Mum includes:

  • Lesley Manville (Disclaimer, Mayday, Sherwood) as Cathy Walker
  • Peter Mullan (Ozark, I Swear) as Michael Roberts,
  • Sam Swainsbury (Fisherman’s Friends) as Jason Walker
  • Lisa McGrillis (Inspector George Gently) as Kelly
  • Ross Boatman (Death of a Son) as Derek Evans
  • Dorothy Atkinson (Ludwig) as Pauline
  • Karl Johnson (Lark Rise to Candleford) as Reg Walker
  • Marlene Sidaway (Coronation Street) as Maureen Walker

Is Mum any good?mum, lesley manville

BBC

Yes – it’s a truly comforting series that serves as a reminder that in dark times, there are always glimpses of hope. Lesley Manville stole the show as the warm and loving Cathy who has to put up with her somewhat testing family. Lisa McGrillis’s take on Kelly is also magnetic, the character starts out as a stereotype of a dumb blonde and evolves into an utterly endearing character – with her own emotional baggage.

Is there a trailer for Mum?

Yes – you can watch the full trailer for series 2 of Mum below.

How can I watch Mum?

You can watch Mum now on BBC iPlayer.

What other Lesley Manville dramas can I watch now?lesley maville, moonflower murders

BBC

For a cosy crime which is equally as comforting, we’d suggest Moonflower Murders, the sequel to the much-loved Magpie Murders, starring Lesley Manville as Susan Ryeland, a book-editor-turned-full-time-sleuth, who moves to Crete and embarks on a new sleuthing venture. Moonflower Murders is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer. If you’re after a spot of time travel with a period drama, we’d recommend Harlots, in which Lesley stars as a merciless brothel owner, Lydia Quigley, in Georgian London. She comes up against her longstanding rival, Margaret Wells (Samantha Morton), when she opens up shop on her upmarket Soho turf. You can watch Harlots now on U.