A sitcom from the heart of Middle England, it followed the fortunes of Sarah France (Prunella Scales), a well-to-do GP's wife, getting on with life after the death of her husband in a car crash.

She shares her large Edwardian house with daughter Clare (Gerry Cowper) and mother Eleanor Prescott (Joan Sanderson).

Literally sandwiched between the two generations: Sarah's on the middle floor, with 'Mother' (as she's mainly known) on the top and Clare in the basement. The widow is buffeted every week by the idiosyncrasies of her strong-willed family.

Salvation comes in the shape of Russell Bryant (Benjamin Whitrow), who runs the crumbling Bygone Books shop, where Sarah works.

Removed from the heated domestic situation, he provides good humoured counsel, while also sharing his woes about living with a gay partner in 1980s Britain.

Described by Scales as boasting "scripts of rare economy and distinction", the show was reportedly turned down for a TV adaptation by the BBC, prompting Brett to instead take it to Thames Television.

Their version of the series arrived on screens in 1988, with Scales and Sanderson continuing in their roles, while Janine Wood took over as Clare and Jonathan Newth as Russell.

The expansion also meant some of Mother's oft-quoted friends finally got a look-in, with Peggy Ann Wood as the infamous Vera Poling and Anne Priestley as Mary.

A confident adaptation, the sitcom won critical plaudits.

Alas, Joan Sanderson's death in 1992 ensured it ended after its fourth series.