Funny Woman 2: Official trailer
Comedy drama Funny Woman returns to Sky this week with plenty of new faces joining the cast. Set in the swinging 1960s, James Bond and The King's Man actress Gemma Arterton returns as the nation’s favourite comic actress Sophie Straw.
Season two will see the rising star juggle her career, as well as her fledgling romance with Arsher Ali’s Dennis Mahindra. Filmed across Liverpool and the Northwest of England, the series explores the themes of love, gender equality, LGBTQ rights, representation in comedy, all against the backdrop and cultural explosion of the swinging 1960s.
A number of cast members return for series two, but the newest batch of episodes will see This Time with Alan Partridge's Tim Key, Game of Thrones and The Tower actress Gemma Whelan and Steve Zissis join the cast.
Here is everything you need to know about the latest series ahead of its return on Sky Max.
When is Funny Woman series 2 released?
The opening episode of series two will be released on Friday, September 6. The entire series will be released on demand on NOW and Sky services. You can watch a trailer of the latest series above.
Funny Woman is produced by Potboiler Productions and Rebel Park Productions, in association with Sky Studios. Creative Director of Comedy Anil Gupta is Executive Producer for Sky Studios and the commissioning editor is Tilusha Ghelani. The new series is executive produced by Nick Hornby, Morwenna Banks, Gemma Arterton, Andrea Calderwood, Gail Egan, Jessica Parker and Jessica Malik. Ross Williams is series producer.
The series is written by multi-award-winning writer Morwenna Banks (Slow Horses), BAFTA and Emmy winning writers Kevin Cecil (Veep) and Andy Riley (Veep). BAFTA nominee Oliver Parker (The Great Escaper) directs.
How many episodes are there in Funny Woman series 2?
There will be six episodes in series two of Funny Woman. Episodes will be released weekly on Sky Max and also on NOW.
A plot synopsis of Funny Woman series two reads: "Series two finds Sophie on a high. She is the nation’s favourite TV comedy star; she’s got a group of good friends and her romance with Dennis is full of promise.
"But trouble is just round the corner: Dennis's divorce will take three years; Sophie’s new sitcom flops and she uncovers a devastating family secret.
"Sophie escapes the turmoil by taking a leading role in a film opposite a glamorous French movie heart-throb. The film is a hit and Sophie’s slick new US agent offers her a fresh start in Hollywood…
"But Sophie returns to London, determined to get the gang back together and to create a new show which reflects her real life, challenges outdated cultural conventions and proves that she and her mates are Funny Women!"
Who appears in Funny Woman series 2?
Gemma Arterton returns as charismatic comedian Sophie Straw alongside Shameless star David Threlfall as George Parker, Rosie Cavaliero as Aunt Marie Parker, Arsher Ali as Dennis Mahindra, Alexa Davies as Marjorie Harrison, Matthew Beard as Bill Gardiner and Leo Bill as Tony. Other returning cast include Clare-Hope Ashitey as Diane, Alistair Petrie as Ted Sargeant, Olivia Williams as Gloria, Emily Bevan as Edith Mahindra and Doon Mackichan as Miss Sykes.
New faces for series two include Steve Zissis from The Changeling, The Wheel of Time actor Marcus Rutherford, comedian Tim Key and Game of Thrones and The Tower actress Gemma Whelan. Other new actors include comedian Roisin Conaty, Rory Keenan, About Time star Lydia Wilson, The Crown's Lydia Leonard, Jack Docherty and Father Brown's Josie Lawrence.
