On her 40th birthday, Alison Braithwaite gets the surprise of her life when she wins 38 million in the first Euro Lottery. She decides to keep the news of her win from her family so as not to encourage the baser instincts of her three squabbling daughters and banker husband. But she’s not the only one living a double life. As her family lurches from one crisis to another, Alison tries to use her windfall responsibly, resisting the pressure to let her family in on her secret. Eventually, though, all the Braithwaite secrets come tumbling out in one big pile of dirty linen.

A smash hit in the U.K., this cutting-edge dramatic comedy stars acclaimed actress Amanda Redman (Sexy Beast) with Peter Davison (Campion, Dr. Who), Lynda Bellingham (My Uncle Silas), and Sylvia Syms (The Jury).Superb writing and outstanding performances make the first series of this British comedy-drama completely compelling. The Braithwaite family has its fights and dysfunctions, but chances are they would have gone on for years without improving or falling apart–until Alison (Amanda Redman, Sexy Beast), the mother, wins 38 million pounds in a lottery. She decides to keep it secret, fearing that sudden wealth might bring out the worst in her banker husband David (Peter Davison, Campion, Doctor Who) and her temperamental daughters (Sarah Smart, Sarah Churm, and Keeley Fawcett). Instead, she sets up a foundation to help people in need. But she’s not the only one in the family with secrets–and when they start coming out, it’s hard to stop.

The skillful plot of At Home with the Braithwaites tightens like a noose over six propulsive episodes. Every turn of the plot is driven by these well-crafted characters with richly human strengths and weaknesses. Alison could have been an annoying do-gooder, but Redman makes her noble efforts down to earth; David could have been an utter weasel–and in fact, he is, but Davison earns our respect by making him real as well. The show has some conventional suspenseful bits (there’s even a car chase at one point), but the most gripping elements are ordinary people grappling with everyday problems; the money sets the story in motion, but the characters make it move. –Bret Fetzer

List Price: $ 39.99

Price: $ 17.52