{"id":620806,"date":"2026-08-05T00:04:22","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T00:04:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/620806\/"},"modified":"2026-08-05T00:04:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T00:04:22","slug":"better-than-motherland-mum-is-lesley-manvilles-underrated-bbc-drama-with-a-relatable-premise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/620806\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cBetter than Motherland\u201d: Mum is Lesley Manville\u2019s \u201cunderrated\u201d BBC drama with a \u201crelatable\u201d premise"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sometimes, all you need to feel better about your own life is a new dysfunctional television family, and Lesley Manville is the matriarch you\u2019re going to love in the BBC’s highly relatable and underrated drama \u2013 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 \u2013 that, dare we say, is even better than Motherland.<\/p>\n

The drama opens with Cathy\u2019s husband\u2019s funeral, and it follows her family as they navigate the rollercoaster ride of losing a loved one. Like Motherland, it\u2019s full of eclectic characters and familiar family moments \u2013 and there\u2019s also a compelling \u2018will they, won\u2019t they?\u2019 romance that\u2019s threaded throughout the three series. <\/p>\n

Intrigued? With the series available to watch on BBC iPlayer, here\u2019s everything you need to know about Mum, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.<\/p>\n

What is Mum about?<\/strong>\"smiling<\/p>\n

BBC<\/p>\n

The BBC sitcom, which first aired on BBC Two in 2016, follows the newly widowed 59-year-old Cathy (Lesley Manville) after her husband\u2019s death. Series one starts with her husband\u2019s funeral and each episode follows a different month in the year. The series ends in December on New Year\u2019s Eve, after following Cathy and her family as they deal with the minor and major events of the year. It\u2019s a beautiful story of a woman rediscovering herself, and maybe even finding love second time around\u2026<\/p>\n

The second series, which first aired in 2017, starts with Cathy\u2019s 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\u2019s somewhat lacking in social graces (she turned up to Jason\u2019s dad\u2019s funeral in a bright-red mini dress). Thrown into the hilarious mix is Cathy\u2019s snobbish sister-in-law, and main antagonist, Pauline (Dorothy Atkinson) who severely lacks self-awareness.<\/p>\n

\"three<\/p>\n

BBC<\/p>\n

Lesley Manville opened about what resonated with the audience after the success of series one. \u2018People were really drawn to the programme. It straddles two styles very well. It\u2019s a drama that can make you cry and feel warmth and sadness,\u2019 she previously told the BBC. \u2018But it\u2019s also a comedy that makes you really laugh. That style and that depiction of ordinary people who are extraordinary is very appealing.\u2019<\/p>\n

Who\u2019s in the cast of Mum?<\/strong>\"two<\/p>\n

BBC<\/p>\n

The cast of Mum includes:<\/p>\n