Two Sides of Life... One Chance at Love... William and Mary

He's an undertaker. She is a midwife. He has two sons. She has two daughters. Two sides of life, one chance at love.

Beginning Saturday, September 17, at 10 p.m., WSBE Rhode Island PBS airs the romantic comedy drama, William and Mary. It stars Martin Clunes as William Shawcross, an undertaker, and Julie Graham as Mary Gilcrest, a midwife. Besides naming its two principal characters, the show's title is also a cultural reference to the reign of the English monarchs, William and Mary. In fact, when I first heard the series title, that's exactly what I thought the subject would be: British royals.

Instead, William and Mary is about two very average, very endearing folks, who become romantically involved after meeting through a dating service. With careers at opposite ends of the life cycle, and facing complicated situations involving their extended families, which intrude on the couple's fledgling relationship, William and Mary promises to surprise and engage you every Saturday night at 10.

WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits standard-definition (SD) and high-definition (HD) programming over the air on digital 36.1. Find us on cable in Rhode Island on Cox 08 / 1008HD, Verizon 08 / 508HD, and Full Channel 08; in Massachusetts: Comcast 819HD; on satellite: DirecTV 36, and Dish Network 7776.