Love-struck mum was Last Tango inspiration
Last Tango In Halifax writer Sally Wainwright has revealed that the hit TV show was inspired by her own mother’s late-life romance.
The Bafta award-winning story about two pensioners, Celia and Alan, who find love, was based on her own mum Dorothy’s whirlwind relationship with her second husband Alec Walker.
The pair had been at school together but Dorothy had no idea that he always had a soft spot for her. They only became a couple when both were widowed and in their 70s.
Sally said she only scripted the TV version of Last Tango In Paris with her mother’s blessing.
“She was thrilled about it,” said Sally. “She loved Celia. Like Celia, mum called a spade a spade.
“But she was so proud of Last Tango in Halifax because it was such a beautiful story and she felt, like I did, that falling in love at 75 was to be celebrated.”
Sally said she allowed her mum to veto a plotline but this had only happened once.
“I ran through everything with her because some scenes were taken straight from her life.”
However, Sally said that, sadly, her mother would be unable to enjoy the new series of Last Tango, which starts on BBC 1 next Sunday, as she has dementia.