Second of Susan Oudot's feisty four-part drama about female friends, starring Pauline Quirke, Frances Barber, Michelle Collins, Lesley Manville, Gwyneth Strong

Mandy feels out of her depth in her new job.
See Choice. (S)

Drama Real Women 9.30pm BBC1
Having neatly set the scene last week, Susan Oudot piles on the agony for the female characters of this drama; they're all having problems, albeit different ones. With her children off her hands, Mandy (Pauline Quirke) gets herself a job, but she's not getting on with her colleagues - although do we detect a twinkle in her boss's eye? Meanwhile Anna (Frances Barber) resorts to advertising in a "lonely hearts" column; Susie (Michelle Collins) is completely wrapped up in her new baby and has gone right off sex; Janet (Gwyneth Strong) is alienating friends and husband (and possibly viewers too) with her infertility problems; and Karen (Lesley Manville) decides to "come out" to her family (which provokes a less-than-believable reaction from her brother). While this is not as raucous as the last series, there is no doubt that it accurately reflects the situations many women approaching 40 have to face. (JR)