A labour of love
CHRISTOPHER Eccleston is at the centre of this latest drama, so you can guess there won’t be much comedy involved.
The actor, who recently starred in Safe House and The A Word, is known for his intense dramatic performances – and this is no exception.
He plays Greg, a Northern Irish mechanic who is raising his three children alone after his wife Marie (Paula Malcomson) walked out on them after 19 years of marriage.
He has absolutely no idea what could have driven her to leave them. And the weirdest part – she hasn’t disappeared or run off with someone else. No, she’s living alone in a terraced house a couple of miles up the road.
This episode is told from Greg’s perspective as, 11 months down the line, he attempts online dating (with little success), holds down his job at Farrell Motors and navigates fatherhood with three confused children.
He’s also having constant flashbacks about his relationship with Marie and can’t move on.
“Women don’t just walk out on their lives for no good reason, but this one did,” he says.
You’ll feel sorry for Greg as he’s painted the hero, with Marie refusing to explain her reasons for leaving. How could a mother leave her children? It’s the ultimate taboo. But next week’s episode will be told from Marie’s point of view, and we have a sneaking suspicion that our allegiances and emotions may be taken on a rollercoaster ride.