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The BBC's heart-warming and tear-jerking drama about hardship and friendship, with a celebrated cast of Britain's finest acting talent. Based on the novels by Susan Oudot. Five girls grew up together in North London, and became firm friends before going their separate ways. Twenty years later it's 1995, they re in their late thirties and about to reunite for the first time, to celebrate Susie's wedding. Series One, Bride-to-be Susie (Michelle Collins) isn't so sure she wants to get married and tries to keep details of her wild past hidden. Her four friends are each going through a personal crisis of their own and as the wedding celebrations get underway they learn more about each other than they ever thought possible. Janet (Gwyneth Strong) is a working wife with an eye on the ticking clock, desperate to have a baby. Mandy (Pauline Quirke) has a good-for-nothing husband who makes her feel overweight and under loved, driving her into another man's arms. Anna (Frances Barber) is a single and carefree writer determined to pursue her dream, but it will mean sacrifice. And Karen (Lesley Manville) is a teacher unwilling to reveal she is gay. Series Two picks up the story a year after Susie's wedding. Approaching forty, the friends find themselves facing a fresh set of problems. Motherhood has turned Susie into a different woman. Mandy is single. Janet s problems aren't solved by IVF treatment. Anna is forced to accept that certain men are single for a reason. Only Karen appears to be content. These are five women who are strong and vulnerable, likeable and laughable, smart and daft, but above all loyal and sincere, with bonds to each other that will prove unbreakable. Directed by Phil Davies, who is better known today as one of Britain's best character actors. Written by Coronation Street's Susan Oudot, Real Women delivers an intelligent social commentary on the contemporary lives of women during the late 20th century.