ATV Choice: Mount Pleasant

Sarah Hooper’s colourful comedy drama following the ups and downs of suburban life returns for a third series, and there are some hot new arrivals in town.

Mount Pleasant, Samantha Womack and Nigel Harman

Curtains twitch and chins wag on the Manchester cul-de-sac when former EastEnders stars Nigel Harman and Samantha Womack arrive in the North, playing London couple Bradley and Tanya. Lively, outspoken and looking for any excuse for a kneesup, the newcomers spell trouble for Mount  leasant’s residents, especially Dan (Daniel Ryan) and Lisa (Sally Lindsay).

Tanya throws a party to get to know the neighbours, but Lisa isn’t in the mood to celebrate after unexpectedly losing her job. Helpfully, though, Dan has her future mapped out: motherhood. He thinks they should start a family, but Lisa isn’t sure she’s ready to swap nights down the pub for screaming tots at dawn.

Hard times loom for Fergus (Neil Fitzmaurice) and Denise (Ainsley Howard) – who are also out of work – while Bianca (Sian Reeves) butts heads with the life insurance company refusing to pay out for her late husband’s accident. Wedding plans for Charlie (David Bradley) and Pauline (Paula Wilcox) are up in the air, too.

On a happier note, Greg (Adrian Bower) introduces his feisty new girlfriend Amber (Sophia Di Martino, Casualty), and Gary (George Sampson) goes weak-kneed over Tanya and Bradley’s daughter Ella (Nicola Millbank, Mr Selfridge).

As life poses a host of new challenges for the less-than-perfect community, Tanya’s bash is bound to cheer everyone up, right?

Well, it’s certainly a night to remember once the tequila and tears begin to flow.

Mount Pleasant, tonight (September 11th) at 9pm on Sky Living and Sky Living HD