Being Eileen is a BBC "heart-warming" comedy-drama which began as a new six-part series on 4 February, and ended on 11 March 2013. Originally titled Lapland, it was first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 24 December 2011. Although initially a single 75-minute episode which was set in Lapland, Finland, it was announced to having a series renamed Being Eileen, consisting of six 30 minute episodes, due to the success of the single episode. The series, written by Michael Wynne, features an ensemble cast. Headed by Sue Johnston, who plays Eileen Lewis, the programme focusses on her, the widowed matriarch of a "large, close-knit and dysfunctional Northern family". The single episode focused on the family's visit to Lapland, whilst the series focusses on their life in Birkenhead. Elizabeth Berrington and Stephen Graham, play Eileen's children, whilst William Ash and Julie Graham play their partners.
Episodes
In this episode, Eileen goes missing and Paula goes into meltdown. Pete tries to treat Mandy, but he gets dragged into searching for their mum, who is not missing after all.
Eileen takes in a homeless man, while Paula and Ray take in a homeless rabbit.
Encouraged by a friend, Eileen decides to join a group of local widows for emotional support, but their obsession with who’s dead, who's dying and who might possibly die in the near future only depresses her.
Eileen decides to spend a quiet afternoon learning Spanish; that is, until she is invaded by the family, with Ray wanting to be a power seller on eBay.
Pete discovers Eileen's shower is broken and decides to step into his father's shoes and get it sorted. A trip to the local branch of Wickes is planned to get Eileen a new shower. Mandy misunderstands and thinks Pete's taking her there to finally pick up her new dream bathroom suite.
Paula and Ray have spent weeks preparing for Liam's pirate-themed birthday, but all is ruined when Paula drills through a water pipe while hanging up a porthole. They decamp to Eileen's house but things run far from smoothly.
