It may not be as… athletic in its portrayals of intimacy as the Bertolucci film to which its title is a nod, but British romantic drama “Last Tango in Halifax” was a hit on PBS last year, and is slated to return for a second season this summer. The BBC series stars Derek Jacobi and Anne Reid as Alan and Celia, two childhood sweethearts who rekindle their romance 60 years after they first met, and its success speaks again to the power of underserved older audiences eager to see characters to which they can relate.
Season two of the drama will premiere on PBS on June 29 at 8pm. Jacobi also stars in the new sitcom “Vicious,” which will join the lineup on Sunday, July 6 at 10:30pm. “Last Tango in Halifax” is written by Sally Wainwright (“Scott and Bailey”) and directed by Euros Lyn (“Sherlock”) and Jill Robertson (“Law & Order: UK”).
The second season will run for six episodes and will find Alan and Celia continuing to negotiate family baggage as they plan a life together. Their hopes to have a secret wedding may be endangered by a revelation that could jeopardize the fledgling friendship between their respective daughters, the uptight Caroline (Sarah Lancashire) and rebellious Gillian (Nicola Walker).
“‘Last Tango in Halifax’ captured the hearts of millions of viewers,” said PBS’s Beth Hoppe. “We are excited to continue the love story between Alan and Celia and work with Red Production and the BBC on an exciting second season. We’re also thrilled that we’ll be giving the acclaimed Derek Jacobi an additional opportunity to shine later in the evening with ‘Vicious.'”
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