Thankfully, Finding Your Feet is such a pleasant surprise it almost makes up for last year’s Hampstead.
Imelda Staunton is Sandra, a stuffy suburbanite who discovers her police chief husband Mike (John Sessions) is having an affair.
After a humiliating confrontation at his retirement party Sandra has no choice but to bolt to the scruffy, inner-city, London flat of her estranged, free-spirited, sister Bif (Celia Imrie).
The first half milks the reunion for gentle laughs as Bif’s bohemian lifestyle causes Sandra to break out in a severe case of the Hyacinth Bucket face wobbles.
But when she agrees to join Bif’s dance class, Staunton gets an opportunity to really flex her acting chops.
With the help of down-to-earth Charlie (Timothy Spall, enjoying himself as a romantic lead) she begins to get her groove back.
It’s not likely to trouble the award panels but it’s big-hearted, touching, smartly-written and beautifully performed by a hugely talented cast.
