Love Me sees loving husband and father Glen Mathieson celebrate his 40th wedding anniversary with his wife, Christine, and their adult children, Clara and Aaron. However, they are all unaware that it’s their last time together as a family.
That night, Christine passes away, leaving Glen, Clara and Aaron reeling. Then, when they’re least expecting it, Cupid’s arrow strikes each member of the grieving family in different ways.
Here’s our guide to Love Me season 1…
Love Me release date
Six-parter Love Me is based on Swedish drama Älska mig and previously aired on Acorn TV.
It debuts on W at 9pm on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. It will then air weekly at the same time. The series is also available as a boxset on UKTV Play.
Love Me cast — who’s who in season 1
Glen Mathieson — Hugo Weaving
Love Me stars British-born, Australian-raised actor Hugo Weaving as 60-something former solicitor Glen Mathieson. He’s been married to Christine for 40 years and her carer for two years, when she passes away, leaving Glen grappling with grief.
After the funeral, in a state of shock and encouraged by his daughter, Glen decides to pack his things and go on a non-refundable holiday that he had booked as a surprise for their ruby anniversary, where he meets free-spirited singleton Anita.
“Glen’s a nice man and was dutiful in caring for Christine, but there’s also a sense in which her death brings grief and possibly liberation,” explains Hugo. “When he then meets Anita, who’s genuinely lovely, and falls in love with her, you’ve got a great conflict in the character.”
Hugo’s credits include cult classics The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and V for Vendetta, as well as Hollywood franchises The Matrix and the Lord of the Rings. His TV credits include Patrick Melrose, Bordertown and The Dirtwater Dynasty.
Clara Mathieson — Bojana Novakovic
Bojana Novakovic plays Glen and Chritine’s 30-something eldest child Clara, a successful Melbourne anaesthetist who has sworn off men after a string of dating disasters… Something which caused a major argument with her mother on the evening of her death. But Clara has a change of heart when she makes the acquaintance of her professionally handsome neighbour, Peter.
“Clara is verging on 40, she is self-deprecating, she’s viciously good at her job and successful,” says Serbian-Australian actor Bojana, 42. “But she is absolutely incompetent at intimacy, and this guy has come along and he is everything she could ever want but she just tries to move away. So the series is her journey from fear and using her humour to put up a wall, to actually being challenged through love and falling in love.”
Bojana’s credits include the US version of Shameless, police procedural Instinct and films I, Tonya and Birds of Prey.
Aaron Mathieson — William Lodder
Meanwhile, Clara’s younger brother, law student Aaron is adrift without anyone to dote on him quite like his mum did.
As he grapples with his grief, he starts to ponder who he wants to spend the rest of his life with and something happens which makes him wonder if his aspiring DJ girlfriend Ella might not be his perfect match after all.
“I think that’s something the audience will love to see, that point where he finally has that epiphany,” says rising star William, 23.
“So much of Aaron’s story is about understanding what love really means, understanding why people feel differently to him and it’s great that transformation takes place.”
William's credits include Go Karts, Wakefield and Bali 2002.
Christine Mathieson — Sarah Peirse
Christine, who lost her leg in an accident that almost killed her years previously, passes away suddenly after her 40th wedding anniversary, leaving Glen heartbroken.
Smart, funny and outrageous Christine and Glen had a wonderful relationship, until the accident confined her to her bed and resulted in intolerable pain.
The former school principal’s presence is felt after her death - sometimes in the form of imaginary conversations with Glen…
Sarah’s credits include Heavenly Creatures, The Hobbit movies, Sweet Tooth, Offspring and Under the Vines.
Peter - Bob Morley
The professional model charms Clara with his passion for life, but is he too good to be true?
Modelling has provided Peter with a lifestyle filled with travel and indulgence. But after years of enjoying the attention, he’s searching for more.
Instantly attracted to Clara’s sharp tongue and defiant nature, Peter throws his whole being into their connection. However there’s something important he hasn’t told her — he has a son who he failed to show up for in childhood…
Bob’s credits include Home and Away, Neighbours, The 100 and In Limbo.
Anita — Heather Mitchell
Fun-loving, free-spirited and socially adept, Anita makes a daily effort to squeeze the juice out of every moment. With nothing left to prove, Anita simply wants what she wants. And right now, Glen has her full attention.
Rather than battle Glen’s children for possession of their father, Anita offers the Mathiesons another possibility; a new start.
Heather’s credits include A Country Practice, Muriel’s Wedding, Da Kath and Kim Code, Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries and Darby and Joan.
Ella — Shalom Brune-Franklin
A rising DJ, her fan base grows exponentially with each show, and she’s driven to pursue every opportunity.
Her boyfriend may be loyal and passionate, but these two are on two diverging paths - he’s intent on becoming a lawyer, she’s focused on making the big time with her music. Neither one of them can deny the bond they share, but will a sudden change to their circumstances prove to be something to can navigate together?
Shalom’s credits include Our Girl, Bad Mothers, Line of Duty, The Tourist and Baby Reindeer.
Jesse — Mitzi Ruhlmann
Aaron’s best mate, Jesse is kind, honest and always there for Aaron. She is gifted with a profound, natural intelligence, undertaking a Master’s degree in science and neurology and really can do anything she wants with her life… Except draw the attention of the person she adores – Aaron.
Mitzi’s credits include Home and Away, The Code and Reckoning.
Sacha — Celia Pacquola
A highly skilled nurse, Sacha has everything Clara wants - a child, a supportive partner and a beautifully chaotic home. Clara’s best friend and work mate, she always makes time for her pal, even when it causes mayhem in her own schedule. And frankly, it’s testament to their friendship that Clara actually listens to her advice. Theirs is an unconditional love where they never judge each other, and can say the things that no-one else dares.
Celia’s credits include Rosehaven, Shut Up, Offspring and Utopia.
Max — Harry Prior
Max is Peter’s son. His father has been absent for most of his life but now, fifteen years after he was born, Peter has reconciled with him and is attempting to make his son a priority. But as Peter’s head is turned by Clara, will Max pay the price twice?
Harry’s credits include The Tailings, Utopia and Deadloch.
Love Me — season 1 trailer
Love Me season 1 — episode recaps
Warning spoilers beyond this point.
Episode 1
It’s an early morning in Melbourne and Clara arrives at a café to meet her date Greg, who makes an off-putting start to their first date. After a 40-minute monologue by Greg about Greg he suggests they have a morning quickie. But Greg has mixed up his dating schedule and he thought she was someone else. This is just one in a long run of bad dating choices Clara has made...
Meanwhile, Clara’s brother Aaron is wrapped in the arms of his girlfriend Ella when he realises he’s late for an important job interview. Unable to pull himself away, he misses his bus and his chance for the perfect positions.
Across town their father Glen decides to push the boat out for his 40th wedding anniversary and surprise his wife Christine by splashing out on an all-inclusive couple’s holiday to a tropical resort with the promising title, Senior Love Romantica.
That night, the family gathers to celebrate forty years of marriage between Glen and Christine. But the smart, funny and outrageous Christine is now confined to a wheelchair after losing a leg in an accident that almost killed her and isn’t able to see the joy in life that she once did. At dinner she turns on her husband, and in the awkwardness, Clara retaliates, revealing intense bitterness between mother and daughter in the process
The siblings both make a quick escape from the dinner - Clara turns to sugar and makes a connection with her new neighbour Peter. Aaron ditches his studies to spend time with Ella. Meanwhile, Glen lies beside his wife and, just as they’re all about to settle back into their isolation, Christine passes away, before Glen gets the opportunity to give his anniversary gift.
Episode 2
It’s Christine’s funeral where Glen, Clara and Aaron have very different emotional responses to their grief which propels them each on a new path...
As the Mathieson family listen to the priest eulogise Christine, Glen, Clara and Aaron’s grief begins to take them on very different paths. The wake intensifies Clara’s feeling of disconnect, Aaron feels as if no one is sad enough, and Glen – numb and lost – admits to booking a very expensive surprise wedding anniversary holiday.
Eager to get back to normal, Clara returns to work straight away - and looses her cool with woman in labour and her husband mid-procedure! Clearly she's not coping as well as she thought.
Later that night at an inner-city bar, Clara shares drinks with her best friend, Sacha. As she wrestles with her loss, she confesses that she never felt her mother’s love.
Elsewhere, Glen is unable to get a refund on the couples holiday... Encouraged by Clara, he decides to go on the trip.
At the family home, Aaron is horrified when he finds his father packing for the holiday. Grabbing the keys to his dad’s car, Aaron takes off.
Meanwhile, Clara flirts with man smoking outside the bar. But just as they're making their way to hers in a taxi, she realises he's much younger than she first thought and kicks him to the curb. Literally!
She makes it home alone, spills her belongings onto her doorstep as she searches for her key, only to find Peter grinning at her sad, drunk face. Their back and forth is interrupted by a phone call from Aaron – he’s had an accident!
Peter chauffeurs Clara to the hospital where they discover Aaron’s 'crash’'is more a minor bingle. While Ella cradles him, Clara chastises him. Returning to her apartment block, Clara and Peter have a moment, which looks promising.
At the airport, Glen trundles towards departure, lost and lonely among the couples. However, after a brief interaction with Anita, another solo Senior Love Romantica guest, he feels something change as a glimmer of hope tugs at his heartstrings.
Episode 3
After their kiss, Clara meets Peter at a café for lunch. There’s good banter, sexual attraction and Clara’s sharp wit slices through any awkwardness and turns it into humour, even if it’s at her own expense. But then, the bomb drops... He’s a model!
Meanwhile, Aaron’s in Ella’s arms again, sharing toast, tea and sex. When Ella suggests they use his Dad’s house for her birthday party Aaron's taken aback - his mother just died in that house! But one kiss from Ella and he's declaring his love and giving in.
At Senior Love Romantica, Glen starts his day with a tentative wander beneath the palms, surrounded by happy couples enjoying the activities designed for two - the perfect place to really crystallise his aloneness. Then Anita appears and she’s a charmer...
A few days later, Peter tracks down Clara at the hospital and presents her with top shelf lollies from the pick-and-mix. He confesses he likes her, but Clara can’t handle the honesty and skips out of the convo – back to work.
As the Mathieson family home pumps with twenty-somethings at play, Aaron tries to pull Ella aside and give her his present, but she’s too busy partying. He finds some of Ella’s friend having sex in his dead mother’s bed and loses it, kicking everyone out. After putting Ella to bed, Aaron finds Jesse waiting to share a beer. In a moment of tenderness, she consoles him, easing his sorrow in a way that Ella hasn’t. We know where this is going!
Back at the Romantica restaurant Glen and Anita finish dinner and take their conversation poolside for a late night drink and dip. After sharing a goodnight kiss, Glen sits alone in his room where Christine appears to him and delivers a smug assessment of the situation.
As night falls, Clara calls her Dad to check in. In an unusually unguarded moment, he says they must not give up because they’re scared of something and, with that, Clara sets off to find Peter.
Episode 4
Dressed in a suit and tie, Aaron nervously interviews at a boutique law firm. He gets the clerkship, but Ella has news of her own – she’s going on tour and wants him to come along. Incompatible much?
Clara arrives home to Peter in the kitchen and his belongings spread across her apartment – he’s moving in, but only while his flat is undergoing repairs. Let's see how this goes!
At the resort, Anita and Glen share their first proper kiss. When Glen understandable becomes overwhelmed with guilt, the ever gracious, Anita says they can just be friends.
Meanwhile, Clara's bezzie, Sacha, hosts a dinner to welcome Peter into the fold. He’s a hit with the whole family, giving Clara pause – maybe he is as good as he seems? However, when they return home, Peter shares a secret he’s been holding onto. Clara is taken back by the lie and runs off to retrieve her mother’s ashes from the crematorium.
On holiday, Glen and Anita try their best to be 'just friends', but neither of them really want that and it doesn’t last.
Aaron and Jesse clash about his life choices and his decision to give up the clerkship for Ella. Yet when he eventually finds Ella to tell her and declare his love, it’s too late...
In the morning Aaron and Clara arrive at the airport to pick up their Dad. Glen appears with a woman they’ve never see before in their lives and it looks like he's smitten.
Episode 5
Clara, Aaron and Glen take to the banks of the Yarra to scatter Christine’s ashes. Glen, however, soon runs off to see his new girlfriend, rather than take time in the moment...
Whist picking up clothes for his weekend at Anita’s, Glen decides it’s time to pack up Christine’s belongings and take them to the charity shop. Too soon?
Meanwhile, at the hospital, Clara tells Sacha that Peter has moved out. Sacha calls out her behaviour and advises that she needs to work harder to hold onto this model man.
Inspired by Sacha’s call to arms, Clara pops on some sexy lingerie and prepares to surprise her beau but, as he opens the door to find her draped across the bed, he reveals a surprise of his own... his son!
Elsewhere, ignoring Ella’s calls, Aaron opts to meet Jesse for lunch. After all, she is always there for him, guiding him through his grief, relationship, and work issues. So when he's invited to dinner with his father’s new girlfriend, naturally he asks Jesse to accompany him for moral support.
As they all come together around Anita’s dining table, Glen takes the opportunity to deliver a very honest and emotional speech. He talks about each of his children and their mother's love for them, before moving on to Anita and praising her kindness and thoughtfulness. Then, out of nowhere, he proposes marriage. Anita says 'yes', Aaron cries and Clara sits in stunned silence!
Later, as Jesse drops Aaron home she chastises him about his behaviour, as she can see how happy Glen is and insists you can’t help who or when you fall in love. In that moment, Aaron realises what has been under his nose – Jesse’s in love with him, she’s his soul mate. He kisses her.
The course of love doesn't run so smoothly for Peter and Clara, however. At home, Peter’s son Max has a moment alone with his dad's new squeeze and lays it all out for her — he hasn’t had his father in his life for fifteen years and now she’s taking him away again. The reality startles Clara and she suddenly leaves without a saying goodbye.
Under the cover of the dark of night Glen returns to the charity bins to retrieve Christine’s belongings. Still very much grieving, is he rushing into a new relationship too soon?
Is there a Love Me Season 2?
Love Me proved such a hit at home when it premiered Down Under in December 2021 it prompted a second series in 2023, joining the ranks of Oz dramas such as Deadloch and Bad Mothers to get a UK release.
“You can’t get enough of people trying to deal with the complexities of life and family, and you can’t get enough of love!” says Hugo.
“In season two, we have a birth rather than a death, so there’s a wonderful sense of joy. There are some wonderful new characters too, who throw spokes in the wheels. I hugely enjoy playing Glen. I don’t play this for humour, but there are situations that he gets put into that can be very sweet. I like that he’s unexpectedly amusing and unexpectedly troubled by certain things and wants to be free of that.”
