‘Last Tango in Halifax’ Finally Returns with Some Holiday Cheer

In 2013, PBS audiences were charmed by the love story of Alan Buttershaw and Celia Dawson, a pair of childhood sweethearts who found each other on Facebook after nearly sixty years apart. Starring Derek Jacobi and Anne Reid, the BAFTA award-winning BBC drama Last Tango in Halifax tells the story of the newly reunited couple and their respective daughters plagued by relationship problems and other various family crises.

When we last saw the Buttershaws and the rest of their clan, a wedding was in the offing. It was touch and go, but Alan’s daughter, Gillian (Nicola Walker) and her betrothed, Robbie (Dean Andrews) eventually tied the knot with the gentle nudging of Celia’s daughter Caroline (Sarah Lancashire). If you want to refresh your memory, check out our recap of the Last Tango in Halifax season three finale here.

It’s hard to believe that over two years have passed since we were treated to a Last Tango episode, but fear not! Viewers are in for a brief but welcome respite from this particular televisual drought. The series is returning in the form of a two-part Christmas special on Sunday, December 17 and 24 at 8pm ET. Check your local PBS listings just to be safe.

The new episodes (which aired in the UK last December) pick up two years after the aforementioned nuptials. We find the perpetually floundering Gillian grappling with issues from her past that threaten to damage her relationship with Robbie. On the other hand, Caroline is moving forward after the tragic death of her wife Kate and is making big changes in her life including a new home and job. Meanwhile Alan and Celia’s distress about Caroline’s relocation is temporarily set aside as Celia is cast in a local theater production.