<P> Last Tango in Halifax is a British comedy - drama series that broadcast on BBC One , beginning November 2012 and ending with a two - part Christmas special in December 2016 . Screenwriter Sally Wainwright loosely adapted the story of her mother 's second marriage . Starring Sir Derek Jacobi and Anne Reid as Alan and Celia , former childhood sweethearts , who are now in their seventies . Reunited via Facebook , they meet , fall in love , and plan to marry . Reid and Jacobi enjoyed having the chance to play out a love story between older people . Sarah Lancashire and Nicola Walker star as Caroline , Celia 's daughter , and Gillian , Alan 's daughter , respectively . Other characters are played by Nina Sosanya , Tony Gardner , Ronni Ancona , Dean Andrews , Sacha Dhawan and Josh Bolt . </P>
who plays alan in last tango in halifax
Sir Derek Jacobi