William and Mary

Martin Clunes and Julie Graham star in this series as the title roles. William; widow and father of 2 daughters works as an undertaker and in his spare time is a member of a choir and R&B rock band. Mary; single mother of 2 sons works as a midwife and has very little free time on her hands.

After the two meet through an Internet dating agency, all seems to be going well .. Until their careers collide on account of a mutual client.

If you're a Martin Clunes fan, you may possibly enjoy this series. However, don't expect William to be anything like Doc. Martin. The two are nothing alike. (Both characters have their good side AND their less than desirable side, shall we say!) This series is definitely NOT a comedy/romance/drama as IMDB has described. More like your typical modern-day trashy drama. Honestly, I was very unimpressed!

I am in the middle of this series now and am already dreading it's end. If anyone can tell me where I can buy this entire series on DVD, I would love to do so. The characters are engaging, everyday people with everyday problems and you find yourself inwardly cheering them on and feeling as if you've known them forever. Each episode is directly relative to some portion of your own life - everything about the series is completely believable from the individual characters to the continuity and story lines of each episode. What one of us cannot find a character to relate to, believe in or dislike has not lived life at all, from the deadbeat ex to the interfering mother to the rude stepchildren. But what wins us over every time is the way William absolutely champions his love for Mary with a single twinkle in his beautiful eyes. When Mary finally told William she was in love with him, I was in tears. I, myself, am totally in love with Martin Clunes and will wait for him forever!

All characters are fine on this show - that is already running out of new ideas in the middle of series 2 - except, in my opinion, Mary. She seems so abrasive, crude and out-of-place with her line of work, and the themes that have been present in every episode are being used too often and often in too heavy-handed a fashion.. I am beginning to see why it lasted only three series. Nevertheless, there are enough pleasant surprises and good dialogue to keep it watchable and I'll watch all the episodes. I never thought I'd like Rueben, but he's quite a study in a conflicted man. My criticisms are not towards the actors, they are all very good actors; it's just that Mary is a scene-stealer for me...and not in a good way.

Mary's character is a pain, but still fun to watch. Love the contrast between birth and death situations.

Very well acted and moving at times, William And Mary is one of those TV mini-series that ITV1 is so good at turning out these days. Martin Clunes as a dissatisfied undertaker is particularly good, acting his way through so many emotional troughs and peaks that you're surprised his character doesn't end up in an asylum. The only let-down is the ending, which is rather too neat and unrealistic for my taste.