Last Tango in Halifax Series 5

[Cary2012]

It's back!
Sunday 9pm BBC
Sunday night telly at its best.
Anyone else looking forward to it?

Caroline was married, but has had gay relationships in the previous series.

But it's not a cliche diddl - it's called representation!
Gay people are everywhere in society and so should be represented in dramas. Apart from soaps there really is very little representation that shows lesbians as 'everyday' people. The balance is starting to change - but as a fifty year old woman I had to wait until I was in my 20s to see ANY representation (very scarce as it was) and it's only been in the last few years it has slowly crept in. That affects you... it makes you 'other'.

You wouldn't believe the following LTIH has from lesbians, as we cling to anything which shows our lives (and Sally Wainwright, the writer has acknowledged she made a mistake when she killed off Caroline's wife. It's called a trope. Lesbians are generally killed or meet some kind of ill fate - there was a huge backlash at the time).

Gentleman Jack has been enormous in the lesbian community, because a central lead lesbian character is so extraordinary in a mainstream drama.

And Caroline lives in Hebden Bridge - a place known for it's lesbian community in the North - a lot of lesbians gravitate towards there. I'm sure her colleague knows she's gay... like I said - she has her own choices! I'm sure Caroline will respect them!

Couldn't agree more, Pebble.

"Gay people are everywhere in society and so should be represented in dramas."

Oh yes I agree & tbh, I hadn't thought of someone of my age only just realising or feeling able to admit their true sexuality.

Celia reminds me so much of my mum, personality, not in looks, it's actually a bit spooky. It's almost as if Sally Wainwright studied her!!

I'm a bit confused over the children's ages. Flora is supposed to be just over a year, or three? Alan is now 82, and he was 79 last series (I think) so Flora's under three by that. But then Caroline's older boy said something about mourning for a year, and it not being much more than that.

I just can't work out Calamity's age either. Is she a year older than Flora or more? She seems the same age though!!

Just read that Flora is 5 & Calamity 7.

How Celia speaks is very true to life. I can remember friends of my late mum being like her and we lived on a rough council estate!
It was the tone of voice and the idea that nothing is good enough and being better than other people.
Alan sees the good in folk. Celia doesn't.

"Just read that Flora is 5 & Calamity 7."
That's just made me recall that Caroline was 47 when she married and she's now 52. So it was obvious!!

Though I'm convinced Alan was 79 last series, and it was said he was 83 in this one!!

@BlackieBooBoo that is so cool. It looks really beautiful.

I’m surprised they didn’t spin out stories a bit more in the previous series’. I felt really hard done by with series 4 as it only had two episodes and it felt like many things went unanswered.

Bit meh on the first episode but love how Ellie and Raff are still together. Celia has turned into a proper old bag. And Caroline seems to have gotten even posher. But I love the feel of the show and it makes me badly miss the North.

Lovely photos Blackie.
Was William mentioned (Caroline & John's eldest)? He was at Oxford reading Eng Lit in last series. He was lovely.

I didn't watch the first series so I don't know how Celia was to start with but she was vile in this episode. If she has got much worse maybe she is the one with drmentia.

I loved the first actor who played William.

The seen with DJ when he had been mugged.

I'm shocked at the predatory comments about Caroline. And there was no indication that Ruth was vulnerable

Celia could do with a good slap. If that was my birthday party and my mum had made similar comments I'd have (politely) given her what for.

Did anyone notice Raf mention a girl at work a couple of times ( I think he said Laura )....I sense an affair coming

Celia reminds me so much of my mum, it's uncanny!

I don’t suppose Sacha Dhawan will put in an appearance? He is lovely, and a very good actor. I greatly looked forward to him laid up on Gillian’s sofa.

Is he supposed to? Or are you just being hopeful?

The scene at the birthday dinner when Celia goes quiet and you know she's building up for a Daily Mail outburst was excruciating. My DH has an auntie like that. I cringed.

Yes. My mum reads the Daily Mail. That scene in particular reminded me of her. Funnily enough when I asked if she watched it, she couldn’t stand Celia

I think it is known as "arriving late at the party" but I caught my first glimpse of this programme by watching the first episode of the new series. I had no idea it would have such a dry wit! I have started watching from the beginning now and am really loving it. I must say that Derek Jacobi and Anne Reid are consummate actors.

I have started watching from the beginning now is it all on itv player?

The whole lot is on BBC iplayer.

Of course, it's BBC.

I am just being hopeful about Sacha Dhawan. He’s in Dr Who now, so probably too busy for Halifax.

I am just being hopeful about Sacha Dhawan.

Me too! Fingers crossed.