Boss of “absorbing” drama with Nicola Walker that ‘went against norms’ reflects on divided reaction

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Stefan Golaszewski, the writer behind the show Marriage, has discussed the mixed response to the series, which starred Nicola Walker and Sean Bean. The four-episode drama aired on the BBC in 2022 and offered a realistic, understated look at everyday married life.

Reviewers overwhelmingly praised the film, giving it a 95% positive score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, audiences had a much different reaction, with only 45% of viewers enjoying it, according to the site.

Critics at The Guardian praised the show as “cleverly done,” and The Daily Mail found it “utterly absorbing.” However, many viewers thought it was “very slow and boring,” and felt it was simply “a recipe for boredom.”

Now that his show Babies has been released, Golaszewski has been discussing the varied reactions to his previous show, Marriage, in an interview with Radio Times.

“I read everything, because you might as well. And, of course, it’s never nice”, he explained.

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It’s obviously not pleasant to hear negative comments about your work. But my wife once pointed out, when talking about Marriage, that ‘If you create a show that intentionally breaks the usual rules of drama…’

She told me I knew exactly what I was doing when I did it, and that I shouldn’t expect everyone to agree with or like it.

Honestly, when I saw the reaction, I just shrugged it off. You can’t control how people are going to respond, so I figured, whatever happens, happens. It is what it is, you know?

Golaszewski’s latest show, Babies, follows a couple as they navigate the emotional journey of trying to conceive, including the pain of miscarriages.

Featuring Paapa Essiedu (from The Capture) and Siobhán Kate Cullen (Bodkin), the complete six-episode series is now streaming on BBC iPlayer. You can also watch new episodes on BBC One every Monday night.

At Digital Spy we called it “a six-part series set to both break and warm your heart”.

Marriage can be streamed in full on BBC iPlayer.

The latest issue of Living Legends, a vibrant 100-page tribute to Harry Styles, is now available! You can find it at newsstands or purchase it online.

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2026-04-06 14:49