At Home with the Braithwaites

I really love this series, in which winning the lottery magnifies all the existing problems of a dysfunctional family. It's hilarious but ultimately very sad. While many over-the-top things happen, the writer is faithful to underlying truths about human frailties. The characters are three dimensional, even the real assholes, and the acting is uniformly good. Peter Davison is especially stellar in a performance that exemplifies his strengths as an actor. His comic timing is spot-on and he makes the weak, petulant philandering husband a sympathetic character without pulling any punches to blunt his shortcomings. You want to kick him in the face one minute and hug him the next. The desperate, hopeful way he looks at his estranged wife any time she gives him the tiniest glimmer of encouragement broke my heart. If you are a fan of Davison's, this series alone is worth buying a region-free DVD player for. While it's definitely British in both setting and tone, there is nothing in it that is at all difficult for Americans to "get."

Alison Braithwaite is married to David. Together they live with their three daughters. Alison's life is turned upside down when she discovers that the Eurolottery ticket her youngest daughter got her for her birthday has landed her £38,000,000! In a bid to be responsible she decides to use the money for charitable purposes... but in doing so she keeps it a secret from her family.

And that's just the start of it all. The whole family are having their own particular crises, and somehow they all end up crashing in the middle. There are so many secrets being hidden away and the eventual outing of the truth is enthralling and unpredictable.

Light-hearted and heart-warming, this production makes being a fly on the wall such an enjoyable experience. It never fails to deliver while never being too serious. If there is a message in there somewhere then it is that life never goes as planned.

Thoroughly enjoyable... I hope there is more in the pipeline!

I watched this TV Show many times and never got tired or bored of it. Very talented cast and script writers. Many thanks to them for making this lovely series.

It's really nice to see a good old northen comedy, just when your getting sick of the likes of Eastenders (everybody's always depressed) along comes something uplifting. It's interesting to see what happens to a normal everyday surburban family who's path in life suddenly takes a dramatic turn. I think Amanda Redman carries it off extremely well as the women who has just won 38 millon quid (sterling). I must admit when I first seen Peter Davison in it I thought "Oh no...that man from all creatures great and small (boring)", but then I remember his role as Dr Who, in which he was quite hatstand in that so..... I was quite amazed at his performace...well done Peter. As for Virginia, she puts Phil Cool (He's a comedian from Rochdale who has an amazingly rubber face)in the shade for some of the expressions she pulls, but it's all in character and she does a great job. All in all an extremely good production. I hope to see more light hearted entertainment on terrestrial TV. Keep up the good work chaps and chappessis!!:)

I love this Show, watched it several times and enjoyed it every time. When you win millions your life changes, for better or worse it depends very much on a person. Brilliant acting and story line. Many thanks to everyone who made this very underrated TV Series.