Pat Dunn

Hebburn star Pat Dunn stars in Lucky Numbers play

Hebburn star Pat Dunn is returning to South Tyneside in the hope of raising laughs in a comedy play. The actress, who played grandmother Dot in the BBC sitcom, is set to appear in Lucky Numbers.

The Shields Gazette, 13th October 2014

For the Hebburn special we join the Pearsons as they anticipate the arrival of Sarah (Kimbereley Nixon), Jack (Chris Ramsay) and their baby AJ as they're flying back from Switzerland. Unfortunately they fail to arrive back before the arrival of Sarah's parents and her grandmother Millie (Miriam Margolyes). The arrival of another old woman in a wheelchair means there's soon a showdown between Millie and Jack's grandmother Dot (Pat Dunn).

Upon arriving home it appears that both Jack and Sarah are enjoying their new life in Switzerland, but secretly they both confess that they hate being separated for so long. Elsewhere Gervaise (Neil Grainger) is soon trying to win back Vicki (Lisa McGrillis) and makes the ultimate gesture to her towards the end of the episode. Soon, Pauline (Gina McKee) finds herself celebrating a non-denominational winter festival when Sarah's Jewish parents are forced to stay after their car is stolen.

One of my most usual complaints about TV shows is that they drag on, but for me this special of Hebburn could've done with being about fifteen minutes longer. The fact that there was so much story to tell meant that some pivotal moments were lost in the shuffle among Joe's insistence that everyone wear hats and Margolyes and Dunn stealing the show as the warring grannies. Despite this, I still love Hebburn and think that this Christmas special was still incredibly funny with characters that I still care about. I hope that BBC2 do the right thing and give this superb sitcom a third series as it more than deserves one.

The Custard TV, 24th December 2013

It's good to be back in the Tyneside town of Hebburn again, with the chaotic, rambling and well-meaning Geordie family nestled in its warm heart. Young married couple Jack and Sarah (Chris Ramsey and Kimberley Nixon) are still unwilling lodgers with Jack's parents Pauline and Joe (Gina McKee and Jim 'Vic Reeves' Moir). But Sarah's nesting instinct is overpowering now that she's pregnant, hormonal and desperate for a home of her own.

Jack is editing the hopeless local newspaper ("Dog Burns Down Factory") and Jack's mother, the magnificently passive/aggressive Dot (Pat Dunn) is still hurling barbs at Pauline. There are some great satellite characters - deluded wannabe popstar Gervaise and brassy care home worker Denise - and though the laughs might not be hearty, you'll smile a lot.

Alison Graham, Radio Times, 12th November 2013