Lesley Manville on saying goodbye to the mother of all roles in BBC2 comedy Mum
Will long-suffering widow Cathy (Lesley Manville) and her devoted admirer Michael (Peter Mullan) live happily ever after as Mum returns for a third and final series?
The new run of the award-winning BBC2 comedy sees the couple finally get out of Cathy’s home to join her colourfully eccentric family for a week away at a country house. But Cathy and Michael are struggling to hide their relationship, particularly from her disapproving son Jason (Sam Swainsbury). Meanwhile Jason’s lovably dim partner Kelly (Lisa McGrillis) is trying to hide a secret of her own.
Lesley Manville tells TV Times what lies ahead in the final series of Mum…
TV Times: Where do we find Cathy and Michael?
Lesley Manville: “When the series begins, you see them having a quick kiss and Michael says that she left her watch behind last night, so viewers will go, ‘Oooh!’ But it has only just happened and Cathy is worried about Jason getting wind of it. But she also wants to protect Michael, who she loves, and she has to deal with it.”
TVT: Does it feel different for them being away from home?
LM: “It’s genius to take us out of Cathy’s house because they are all fish out of water and not comfortable. But for us filming, we all thought, ‘Yes, we’re going on holiday for eight weeks!’”
TVT: Why is this the right time to end the show?
LM: “The wonderful thing about the first two series is that it has been the slowest love story in history. But we have to tie things up and put Cathy and Michael to bed - no pun intended! The way it ends, there is a feeling of life going on and that it will head somewhere else, which you could make a series about - but we won’t!”
TVT: Was it sad to say goodbye?
LM” “Oh, we’ll all miss it, this job is very dear to my heart and I get stopped in the street about Mum more than anything. As a cast too, we are all deeply in love with each other, we’re friends for life - they call me Dame Lessa! I’m never more than 10 minutes away from a WhatsApp from one of them.”
TVT: What impact has playing Cathy had on you?
LM: “I’m much less patient and far more judgemental than Cathy so it has been cathartic because it has brought out calmness. But I bring back the full Manville sarcasm once I stop playing her! Although Cathy quietly speaks out this time and I hope the audience says, ‘Yes!’ because it’s a triumphant moment.”
Mum begins on Wednesday 15 May on BBC2 at 10pm.
All six episodes of the new series of Mum will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer after the first episode has aired
