lilian kominski, played by anna korwin, is the mother of rachel kominski (jacquetta may). she comes to stay with rachel unexpectedly following a row with her husband, joseph, and she refuses to return home until her husband begs her to. lilian is an interfering, judgemental and critical person, who constantly upsets and embarrasses rachel in front of her friends. she jibes rachel for not dressing attractively or having a husband; criticises her lifestyle; meddles in her blossoming relationship with richard cole (ian reddington); frowns upon rachel's lodger, michelle fowler (susan tully), for having an interracial relationship with clyde tavernier (steven woodcock); and tells anyone who cares to listen about how badly rachel treats her and how much she has sacrificed for her. rachel finds her presence highly stressful, but whenever she confronts her mother, lilian gets upset, so rachel is forced to backtrack to spare her feelings.