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10 of the most memorable matriarchs on TV
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Celebrate Mother’s Day with our favourite TV mums from across the years
By Charlotte Briggs, Feature Writer
- Published
- 26 March 2025
They say that television has helped to raise generations of children. While that may not be entirely true, the small screen has been home to many loving matriarchs with big personalities and even bigger hearts. To mark Mother’s Day 2025, we’ve rounded up our favourite TV mums and where you can watch them now on Virgin TV. Whether you’ve needed a shoulder to cry on, some tough love or a comforting word, these leading ladies have always left us smiling from ear to ear when we needed it most. Without further ado, it’s time to give them their flowers...
Joyce, Stranger Things
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Stream seasons 1-4 of Stranger Things in Apps > Netflix now
A lot of parents say they’d do anything for their children. But would they head to a terrifying parallel dimension (aka the Upside Down) to battle evil forces and a monstrous Demogorgon with the hopes of saving their son? Maybe not. That’s the name of the game for tough cookie Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) who will stop at nothing, including rallying an entire town that was already questioning her sanity, to make sure her sons are safe and sound.
Blanca, Pose
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Stream seasons 1-3 of Pose in Apps > Disney+ now
While the ballroom scene might look glamorous, the mean streets of 1980s New York City certainly aren’t for the LGBTQ+ community (and that’s before you cross paths with sharp-tongued Elektra). The House of Evangelista was a safe haven for those without a place to go, and house mother Blanca (Michaela Jaé Rodriguez) welcomed many of her vulnerable children with open arms before nourishing them with the care, love and confidence needed to pursue a better life. Sob!
Peggy, Big Boys
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Stream series 1-3 of Big Boys in Apps > Channel 4 now
Widower Peggy (Camille Coduri) is a light in everyone’s lives. Despite experiencing her own devastating heartache, selfless Peggy will do anything to make her son Jack happy and they share an unbreakable bond that’s full of humour. Her support for Jack extends to his university pals too, and she’s always there to offer her unwavering support with a brew (or a trip to the pub).
Pam, Gavin & Stacey
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Stream series 1-3 of Gavin & Stacey in Apps > BBC iPlayer now
Pamelaaa! A kind and doting mother to not just her “little prince” but his best mate Smithy too, Pam (Alison Steadman) is the kind-hearted matriarch of the Shipman household. Despite her big-mouthed tendencies that sometimes land her in awkward situations (especially with her Welsh in-laws), Pam’s love for her family makes her the kind of mum that we’d want to treat to a chicken bhuna, lamb bhuna, prawn bhuna, mushroom rice, bag of chips, keema naan and nine poppadoms.
Mary, Derry Girls
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Stream series 1-3 of Derry Girls in Apps > Channel 4 now
Forgive us Ma Mary, for we have sinned. There wasn’t much that Erin and her gaggle of pals could get away with under the watchful eyes of this no-nonsense mammy. However, despite her strict rules and even harsher punishments like sending the wains to clean Fionnula’s chip shop, Mary (Tara Lynne O’Neill) always had her daughter’s back whether she was consoling a stood-up Erin or hexing (and killing) Aunt Bridie for insulting her family.
Helen, All Creatures Great And Small
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Stream series 1-5 of All Creatures Great And Small in Apps > 5 now
Helen Herriot (Rachel Shenton) is the kind of mother you read about in fairy tales. A fierce protector of all creatures great and small (see what we did there), Helen’s forced to navigate new motherhood alone while her husband completes RAF training, a hardship that many mothers faced during the Second World War. We salute you, Helen!
Meg, Motherland
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Stream series 1-3 of Motherland in Apps > BBC iPlayer now
It’s a show that centres around playdate politics and matriarchal warfare (plus Kevin), so you’d expect one of the Motherland mummies to make our list. But what made Meg (Tanya Moodie) stand out at the school gate was that she proved mothers can have it all: a successful career and a loving family. We loved watching Meg kick butt both in and out of the boardroom, particularly when she beat cancer and dealt with an incident of racist bullying. Go Meg!
Mrs Sidhu, Mrs Sidhu Investigates
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Stream series 1 of Mrs Sidhu Investigates in Apps > U now
Another working mother (albeit to a grown-up son), Mrs Sidhu (Meera Syal) can do it all. The go-getting widow runs a successful catering business with a side hustle of sleuthing, helping to solve murder cases across Slough while encouraging her son to find his passion and follow his dreams. Eventually, he joins her in both business and crime-solving adventures – proving that a mother’s belief in their child always pays off.
Cathy, Mum
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Stream series 1-3 of Mum in Apps > BBC iPlayer now
While a lot of TV series focus on mothers with young children, Cathy Walker (Lesley Manville) carried the baton for middle-aged mums everywhere. Despite her own hardships, Cathy proved that a mother’s love is unconditional as she supported her (occasionally terrible) adult son, not to mention his needy partner, through thick and thin.
Sarah, Heartstopper
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Stream series 1-3 of Heartstopper in Apps > Netflix now
Navigating your teens can be hard enough without struggling with your sexuality too. That’s what makes Heartstopper’s Sarah Nelson (Olivia Colman) so beloved as she immediately and wholeheartedly supported her son Nick when he came out as bisexual, continuing to offer sage advice as he explored his identity and growing relationship with fellow student Charlie.
Honourable mentions:
Jackie Goodman (Friday Night Dinner) – Stream series 1-6 in Apps > Channel 4 now
Dr Jean Milburn (Sex Education) – Stream series 1-4 in Apps > Netflix now
Claire Dunphy (Modern Family) – Stream seasons 1-11 in Apps > Disney+ now
Mary Cooper (Young Sheldon) – Stream seasons 1-7 in Apps > Channel 4 now
Nic (Am I Being Unreasonable?) – Stream series 1-2 in Apps > BBC iPlayer now
Christine Baxter (It’s A Sin) – Stream series 1 in Apps > Channel 4 now
Polly Gray (Peaky Blinders) – Stream series 1-6 in Apps > BBC iPlayer now
Seema Hussein (We Are Lady Parts) – Stream series 1-2 in Apps > Channel 4 now
Marge Simpson (The Simpsons) – Stream seasons 1-36 in Apps > Disney+ now
Peggy Mitchell (EastEnders) – Stream EastEnders in Apps > BBC iPlayer now
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