Following the multiple award-winning first series, which was met with huge critical and audience acclaim, Alma’s Not Normal is set to return to BBC Two for a second series, it was announced today.
Created, written by, starring and Executive Produced by Sophie Willan, Alma’s Not Normal centres on Boltonian wild-child, Alma Nuthall and her family of eccentric, unruly women and was the creation of Sophie in 2018 when she was inaugural winner of the BBC’s Caroline Aherne Bursary Award.
The series, produced by Expectation, offers a bitingly funny and unflinching take on class, sexuality, mental health and substance abuse. It celebrates women dealing with the hands they’ve been dealt while doggedly pursing their dreams.
The first series has swept the awards lists since Sophie won BAFTA Best Comedy Writer for the pilot in 2021. Since then, Sophie and the series has been recognised by no less than four national awards1 and has been nominated for three categories in the forthcoming BAFTAs2.
Speaking on the returning series, Sophie Willan said: "I’ve been overwhelmed by the response to the show – people seem to really love and relate to the Nuthalls which means a lot and to get the chance to continue that story is beyond what I could have hoped for.
“That on the back of the awards we’ve received is a bit mind-blowing if I’m honest. To be recognised by BAFTA, Broadcast Awards, The Royal Television Society, peers and our audience in such a way is a real honour. I’m thrilled to get back in the writing room to see where Alma’s journey takes us next.”
Executive Producer and Expectation’s Creative Director, Scripted, Nerys Evans says: “Sophie Willan is one of the most naturally gifted comedy writers I’ve had the pleasure of working with. It’s been so wonderful seeing the response to Almas not Normal. Viewers have connected so instantly to Sophie’s characters. Like everyone else, I can’t wait to see what Alma and her brilliant family do next.”
Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy Commissioning, says: “We couldn’t be prouder to commission the Award-winning Alma’s Not Normal for a second series. It’s a privilege to work with Sophie and her brilliantly bold and original comedy brain. Sophie embodies everything that you can achieve with the unique opportunities BBC Comedy can offer exciting new voices.”
Alma’s Not Normal is an Expectation production for BBC Two, written and Executive Produced by Sophie Willan. It is commissioned by Jon Petrie, Director of Comedy Commissioning. The Executive Producer for Expectation is Nerys Evans and the Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Tanya Qureshi.
The first series of Alma’s Not Normal is available on BBC iPlayer and can also be seen on Britbox in Australia and CBC Gem in Canada.
