Elsie "Mam" Hepplewhite

Psychologically...

She's as fiercely protective as any tigress of her beloved son Richard - in other words, your typical Welsh Mam.

No Hopes

She's had a violent aversion to the Japanese since her husband died as a POW in Japan during World War 2.

High Hopes

She's delighted the boys are living there - she can fuss around them like a mother hen. It feels like they're a proper family.

The actor

She's played by Margaret John, who works extensively in radio and television both in English and Welsh. Screen credits include Coronation Street, Doctor Who, Last of the Summer Wine, Doctors and The Bench and Lucky Bag for BBC Wales. Margaret also works in theatre and feature films.