How often do you watch a TV series that stays with you long after you’ve watched it. If the answer is, not often enough, we’re about to introduce you to a series that will do exactly that. Enter A Mother’s Son, Nicola Walker’s 5-star crime drama, which features what is, in our opinion, the Unforgotten star’s best performance.
The two-part series finds mother Rosie (Hermione Norris) in an unthinkable situation when a young girl is murdered and her son appears to be connected. And when we say connected, we mean it appears he might be responsible – and his mother must decide whether to come clean to police about her suspicions or protect her son, whatever it takes.
With the series available to stream on ITV tonight (or now, if you like), here’s everything you need to know about A Mother’s Son before you tune in, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is A Mother’s Son about?
The two-part drama, which first aired on ITV in 2012, stars Nicola Walker as DC Sue Upton who finds herself investigating a particularly harrowing crime alongside DCI Thomas McCleish (Charles Daish): the murder of a schoolgirl. The question is, who’s behind the horrific act?
Facing every parent’s worst nightmare is Rosie (Hermione Norris) whose life with her husband Ben (Martin Clunes) and their four children begins to disintegrate when she can’t fight the suspicion that her son Jamie (Alexander Arnold) is responsible. Why? She finds blood-stained trainers in Jamie’s room – how else did the blood get there?
But the real question is, should Rosie share her fears with the police and potentially ruin her relationship with her son? Or, should she protect him at all costs? It’s a tense, thoroughly absorbing, ride as we watch to see what her – and her son’s – fate will be.
Hermione Norris, who plays Rosie, told The Custard TV of her role: “Rosie has recently been divorced and she works in a local deli. Essentially mother and a family woman. She’s found happiness again with Ben, Martin Clunes, and the relationship presents new hopes and new beginnings. second chance at marriage after her first to David.
“They have all recently moved into a house together, she and her two children, and Ben and his son and daughter. They suffer the usual stresses and strains of family life but right from the get-go there is unease with Rosie’s son Jamie. Rosie and Jamie have an incredibly close bond, she’s a mother and he’s her son. Rosie absolutely adores him, he’s her baby. You see how close they are in the story.”
Who’s in the cast of A Mother’s Son?
The cast of A Mother’s Son includes:
- Hermione Norris (Spooks) as Rosie Cutler
- Martin Clunes (Doc Martin) as Ben Banks
- Nicola Walker (Unforgotten)as D.C. Sue Upton
- Paul McGann (Doctor Who) as David Cutler
- Alexander Arnold (Delivery Run) as Jamie Cutler
- Ellie Bamber (The Trial of Christine Keeler) as Olivia 'Livvy' Cutler
- Jake Davies (Faithful)as Rob Banks
- Antonia Clarke (The Thirteenth Tale) as Jess Banks
- Annabelle Apsion (Call the Midwife) as Kay Mullary
- Juliet York (Splitter)as Lorraine Mullary
- Charles Daish (Mile High) as D.C.I. Thomas McCleish
Is A Mother’s Son any good?
Yes – it’s not the easiest watch, especially if you’re a parent, but it’s brilliantly written and acted and really makes you question what you’d do if you suspected your own child of murder. Nicola Walker is, as you’d expect, superb as a detective in a deeply challenging situation but high praise should also go to Hermione Norris who portrays a mother in anguish to perfection.
How can I watch A Mother’s Son?
A Mother’s Son is available to watch now on ITVX. You can also watch it on Netflix.
What other Nicola Walker dramas can I watch now?
If you’re a detective drama fan and you’ve already seen Unforgotten, we’d suggest Annika. Nicola plays DI Annika Strandhed who heads up a new specialist Marine Homicide Unit (MHU), which requires her to investigate the mind-boggling murders that wash up Scotland’s waterways. You can watch Annika now on BBC iPlayer. For period drama lovers, we’d recommend Mary & George. Inspired by a true story, Julianne Moore is Mary Villiers, the woman who moulded her son to seduce King James I and her family’s fortunes in the process, while Nicola plays her adversary Lady Elizabeth Hatton. Mary & George is available to watch on Apple TV.
