Tom

Tom is a British situation comedy television series created and written by Ifan Barber and starring Isaac Hempstead Wright in the title role, with Rosamund Pike appearing in a major role for the first two series. The series focuses on Tom Watson, a first year university student who discovers his lecturer is his biological mother.

The show aired on BBC Two for it's first two series from January 2019 to February 2020, before going on a five-year hiatus and returning on BBC One in October 2025 for a further three series. In 2027, the show again entered a hiatus. In 2029, BBC One confirmed Tom would return for a sixth series of 8 hour-long episodes to mark the show's 10th anniversary. No further episodes were ordered beyond the sixth series' conclusion.

Premise
As Tom Watson moves from quiet suburbia of Surrey to the bustling city of London to study politics at The London School. However, he's left shellshocked on his enrolment day when his lecturer recognises his name and introduces herself as his biological mother.

Main

 * Isaac Hempstead Wright as Tom Watson, a 19-year-old university student who's life is flipped upside down when he discovers that he's not only adopted, but his biological mother is his university lecturer.
 * Rosamund Pike as Jessica Wells (Series 1 - 2), a 39-year-old university lecturer who is unexpectedly reunited with the son she gave up for adoption. She dies unexpectedly offscreen between series 1 and 2.
 * Dominic Cooper as Holmes Anderson (series 3 -4, guest 5 - 6), a businessman bachelor in his 40s who discovers at the funeral of his brief university girlfriend Jessica that he's the father of her son, Tom.
 * Imogen Gurney as Rebecca Daniels (Guest series 1 - 3, main 4 - 6), a fellow student at The London School and Tom's crush, and later wife.
 * Theo Stevenson as Jack Harmon (Guest series 1 - 2, main 3 - 6), Tom's best friend and flatmate at university, Rebecca's university boyfriend until he decides to come out as gay and an aspiring internet celebrity.

Recurring

 * Helen McCrory as Joselyn Watson, Tom's adoptive mother who struggles to deal with Jessica being in his life.
 * David Tennant as Andrew Watson (series 3 - 6), Tom's adoptive father and his confidante in the wake of Jessica's death. He works abroad often and his relationship with Joselyn is strong but strained.
 * Anne Reid as Helene Wells (Series 2 - 6), Tom's biological grandmother who is eager to get to know him. Tom also helps her deal with her daughter's death.
 * Isabella Pappas as Jenn Anderson (Series 4 - 5), Tom's half sister and the daughter of Holmes with his current wife. She's a malicious manipulator who tries to cut Tom out of her family's life.
 * Gwendoline Christie as Elizabeth Anderson (Series 4 - 5), Tom's stepmother and the wife of Holmes. She becomes a confidante for Tom but warns him about Holmes' manipulative ways, something she notes that her daughter Jenn has inherited.

Series 1
Series 1 of Tom premiered on BBC Two at 9pm on January 1st 2019. It ran for six episodes. It was well received by critics. It was renewed for a second six-episode series by the BBC shortly after episode 3 aired.

Series 2
Series 2 of Tom premiered on January 1st 2020 and concluded on February 4th 2020, running for six episodes. It was critically acclaimed and earned Isaac Hempstead-Wright a BAFTA for Outstanding Comedy Performance: Male. This was the last series to air on BBC Two. BBC One announced series 3 in December 2024, almost 5 years after series 2's conclusion.

Series 3
Series 3 of Tom premiered on October 7th 2025 and concluded on November 11th 2025. It ran for six episodes. It was the first series not to feature Rosamund Pike, while being the first series to feature David Tennant and Dominic Cooper. It was also the first series to air on BBC One and the first time the series had aired in over 5 years.