<P> The Independent noted the significance of the series having three female leads over the age of 40, stating that this, alongside Caroline's lesbian storyline and Gillian's attitude towards sex made the series "quietly subversive" when compared against primetime television as a whole . </P> <P> In addition to its main characters, Last Tango in Halifax features a regular supporting cast . Nina Sosanya plays Caroline's romantic partner Kate, who she decides to marry over the course of the series . Gerard Gilbert of The Independent describes the relationship between the couple as "one of the most normalised lesbian relationships ever shown on the small screen ." Nina Sosanya noted that she enjoyed filming with Sarah Lancashire and that the pair would "giggle a lot like completely juvenile idiots" whilst filming their love scenes . </P> <P> Other characters introduced in the first series include Caroline's husband John (Tony Gardner) and his lover Judith (Ronni Ancona), Gillian's brother - in - law, Robbie (Dean Andrews), and Paul (Sacha Dhawan), a youth with whom Gillian has a sexual relationship . Josh Bolt plays Gillian's son Raff, whilst Edward Ashley and Louis Greatorex play Caroline's teenage sons William and Lawrence . The second series expanded the families of Alan and Celia . Timothy West appears as Alan's brother Ted whilst Gemma Jones plays Celia's sister Muriel . The third series later introduces Rupert Graves as Gary, who is revealed to be Alan's illegitimate son, and Michelle Hurst as Kate's mother Ginika . </P> <P> The first series was filmed in Yorkshire and in Altrincham between January and April 2012 . Altrincham was used to represent scenes set in Harrogate, such as those set at Caroline's house . The second series began filming in July 2013 . Filming took place at Holdsworth House in Halifax in August 2013 and also at Hoghton Tower, a fortified manor house in Lancashire, in August 2013 . This resulted in the Tower's being closed to the public between 19 and 28 August . In September the University of York supplied ten students from the Department of Theatre, Film and Television to work as extras on the series . Filming for the third series began in Yorkshire and at Peover Hall, near Knutsford, Cheshire in July 2014 . </P>

Who plays judith in last tango in halifax