DEBORAH’S MUST-WATCH TV CLASSICS

Mum (2016-2019)

Available on BBC iPlayer

Both the lead characters were in their 60s in this sublime sitcom exploring grief, middle age and loneliness, yet it was still one of the sexiest things ever on TV. The will-they-won’t-they relationship between the widowed Cathy (the extraordinary Lesley Manville, right) and lifelong friend Michael (Peter Mullan) was beautifully written by Stefan Golaszewski. The secondary characters offset the quiet romance, the underlying yearning and Manville and Mullan’s subtle but devastatingly powerful performances. It was a slow-burn show, as we waited for the pair to declare their feelings. At the end of the second (of three) series, set on Bonfire Night, the moment – the moment – happened when Michael tells Cathy: ‘I’m Michael, I’m pretty boring’ and she says… ready? ... ‘I don’t know when or how it happened. I can’t stop thinking about you. I mean, I’d love to find you boring. I’d love to look at you and not notice your eyes. I’d love to go to bed at night and not think of you and wake up in the morning and not be thinking of you. When did that happen?’ And then, as they stood around the bonfire, she tentatively reached to hold his hand. And did they finally kiss? Well, you’ll have to watch and find out…