---
title: "Last Tango in Halifax: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/tv/last-tango-in-halifax/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/tv/last-tango-in-halifax"
critics_score: 77
critics_reviews: 7
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Last Tango in Halifax (2012): what the critics said

Critics' score 77 from 7 reviews: 5 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative.

Most critics like Last Tango in Halifax, and they like it for the same reason: Derek Jacobi and Anne Reid. The praise clusters around the pair’s chemistry, described across the reviews as warm, quiet and grounded, and around Sally Wainwright’s dialogue, which several critics credit with making ordinary squabbles and everyday worries worth watching. The consensus is that the series is funny and bittersweet without tipping into sentimentality, and that the cast is doing careful work.

The reservations are modest and mostly about plotting. A couple of critics find the soap-like complications unearned, or feel they get in the way of the central couple; Variety finds the second run less buoyant than the first. The Guardian is only lightly engaged, though still won over by the leads. Paste’s complaint about the later run is that it is too short to develop its stories. The spread is narrow: nobody dislikes it, and the doubts are about construction rather than tone.

## The i Paper — Emily Baker

Rating ★★★★★. 23 February 2020. 

Baker warmly welcomes the series’ return, calling it one of the best shows on television. She especially praises the cast’s superb acting and the palpable chemistry between Derek Jacobi and Anne Reid.

[Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/last-tango-in-halifax-seies-5-review-bbc1-401143)

## The AV Club — Sonia Saraiya

Rating B. 12 October 2013. 

Saraiya finds the series warm and charming, with a moving, grounded take on love and mortality. She especially praises the quiet chemistry between Alan and Celia, while noting that some plot twists and comic turns feel unearned.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/last-tango-in-halifax-1798178283)

## Radio Times — Flora Carr

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 21 September 2020. 

Carr’s headline and description present the fifth series as bittersweet and funny, with poignancy that avoids sentimentality. She singles out the everyday worries and squabbles for their poignancy.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/comedy/last-tango-in-halifax-review-series-five/)

## The Guardian — John Crace

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 20 November 2012. 

Crace finds the familiar, predictable series better than expected, though he remains only lightly engaged. He praises the charm and commitment of Anne Reid and Derek Jacobi, whose performances help the show work.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/nov/20/last-tango-halifax-tv-review)

## Variety — Brian Lowry

Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 26 June 2014. 

Lowry finds the second season pleasant company but less buoyant than the first. He especially praises the warmth between Jacobi and Reid, while noting that familiar soap-like complications sometimes get in the way.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2014/tv/reviews/tv-review-last-tango-in-halifax-season-two-1201223514/)

## Paste — Allison Keene

Rating 8.9/10. 18 September 2020. 

Keene welcomes the series’ return but finds the season frustratingly brief, leaving its storylines underdeveloped. She especially praises the natural dialogue and the cast’s ability to make ordinary conversations compelling.

[Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/last-tango-in-halifax/last-tango-in-halifax-season-4-review)

## Den of Geek — Louisa Mellor

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 23 February 2020. 

Mellor finds the returning drama fluent, entertaining, and beautifully observed. She especially praises Derek Jacobi’s performance and Sally Wainwright’s finely detailed writing and dialogue.

[Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/last-tango-in-halifax-series-5-episode-1-review-warm-hearted-pin-sharp-drama/)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/last-tango-in-halifax.md