There aren’t many performances that can top Sarah Lancashire’s BAFTA-winning turn as Catherine Cawood in Happy Valley, but you might be pleased to hear there’s another drama of hers that comes very close. MotherFatherSon is the superb family drama that sees Sarah step into the shoes of an MP, who enters a power struggle with ruthless millionaire media mogul Max Finch (Richard Gere). If you ask us, it’s her best drama since Happy Valley, and and luckily for her fans, it’s available to binge tonight on the BBC.
The series, which also stars the late Helen McCrory and Billy Howle, revolves largely around a family in crisis – namely Max Finch’s family – and their troubles run extremely deep. Max’s son is in line to inherit his father’s empire but, having spent years trying to deal with the weight of expectation on him through the use of drink and drugs, a stroke is about to change everything – and effectively leaves him like a helpless child.
Intrigued? Before you tune in, here’s everything you need to know about MotherFatherSon, including the cast, plot and how to watch it.
What is MotherFatherSon about?
The eight-part family drama introduces us to Max Finch (Richard Gere), who owns one of the world’s most influential media empires. An arrogant millionaire, his power is largely owed to the fact that he holds dark secrets about almost everyone - and he uses his power ruthlessly.
His son, Caden (Billy Howle), is the youngest ever editor of Max’s prized newspaper, The National Reporter, and he’s primed to inherit his father’s empire. But Caden is fast crumbling under the pressure of his father’s expectations (their relationship is hardly a warm one), and he turns to drugs and excess to numb his pain – that is, until he suffers massive stroke.
Left in a critical condition, his recovery is far from linear and as he battles to rebuild his life, his mother and Max’s estranged wife, Kathryn (Helen McCrory) sees it as a second chance to be a mother to her son. She herself is a respected former journalist from a wealthy British family and she’s determined to reconnect with the sensitive boy Max ripped away from her.
Caden, however, is emotionally tormented and having spent years being controlled by his father, he’s no longer prepared to stay silence. Caden knows secrets that could bring Max’s empire crashing down – and it seems his father is no longer able to stop his son from exposing them.
Sarah Lancashire, who plays Angela Howard, an MP and Leader of the Opposition, told the BBC of her role: “We first see her in a meeting with Max (Richard Gere) wanting his help. She wants his allegiance for her political party, to back her campaign. It’s a fun relationship between the two of them, because it’s a power struggle really.
"Angela admires Max and Max admires her. It’s a meeting of minds in a sense, almost like a chess match. At the start she needs him more than he needs her, but it becomes apparent that if he can get her into Number 10 then she could really use the power that would give her to benefit him. So it’s potentially a good relationship for both of them.”
She explained how she was drawn to the role due to the strength of the story: “They’re some of the best scripts I’ve ever been sent,” she added. “I read the first six episodes in one sitting, and then asked them to send me through seven and eight. It always boils down to the writing really, and Tom’s writing is tremendous. MotherFatherSon was just an extraordinary read and I wanted to be a part of it.”
Who’s in the cast of MotherFatherSon?
The cast of MotherFatherSon includes:
- Sarah Lancashire (Happy Valley) as Angela Howard MP
- Richard Gere as Max Finch
- Helen McCrory as Kathryn Villiers
- Billy Howle as Caden Finch
- Pippa Bennett-Warner as Lauren Elgood
- Sinéad Cusack as Maggie Barns
- Paul Ready as Nick Caplan
- Joseph Mawle as Scott Ruskin
- Danny Sapani as Jahan Zakari
- Niamh Algar as Orla Maguire
- Karen Bryson as Kali Elgood
- Steven Cree as Andrew Bentham
Is there a trailer for MotherFatherSon?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for MotherFatherSon below.
Is MotherFatherSon any good?
Yes – not least because of the brilliant casting. Richard Gere plays a millionaire mogul like it’s second nature, while Sarah Lancashire would make an excellent politician if her performance is anything to go by. Viewers have called the acting “outstanding” and said they were “captivated from the start”. If you’re looking for an impeccably performed drama, this is one for you.
How can I watch MotherFatherSon?
All eight episodes of MotherFatherSon are available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
What other Sarah Lancashire dramas can I watch now?
For a drama with roots in real-life, we’d recommend Julia. The story of trailblazing chef Julia Child, whose show, The French Chef, made food TV (think Nigella Bites and The Naked Chef) a thing, stars Sarah in the titular role and she absolutely nails it. You can watch Julia on Prime Video now. If you’re a fan of detective dramas, you’ll love Rose and Maloney. The British series, which first aired on ITV in 2002, stars Sarah and Phil Davis as the titular Rose Linden and Marion Maloney, who work for the fictional Criminal Justice Review Agency. Primarily taking on claims of miscarriages of justice, the pair must reinvestigate everything from the case of a convicted rapist to that of a wealthy property developer convicted of murdering his father, sister and business partner on a remote farm. You can catch up on Rose and Maloney on Prime Video.
