A "first look" image and a clip from the new series of award-winning BBC comedy Alma's Not Normal has been released ahead of its return to TV screens later this year.
The first series was met with "huge critical and audience acclaim" and the second edition is returning to BBC Two and iPlayer this autumn with Boltonian Sophie Willan set to dazzle again in the title role.
Created, written by, starring and executive roduced by Willan, Alma’s Not Normal centres on Boltonian wild-child, Alma Nuthall and her family of eccentric, unruly women and was Willan's creation in 2018 when she was inaugural winner of the BBC’s Caroline Aherne Bursary Award.
Scenes for the upcoming series were also filmed in Bolton town centre and Horwich, in the Green Machine bike shop.
Alma's Not Normal being filmed in Horwich
Alma's Not Normal being filmed in Horwich
Alma's Not Normal being filmed in Horwich
Taking a break from filming in Horwich in October, Sophie told The Bolton News: “I only live 15 minutes away, but it’s always a treat to come home, and it’s lovely to be working here, and employing lots of Boltonians as well.
“It’s fabulous.”
The series is returning
Sophie was also seen filming in Bolton in 2021 during the filming of the first series in Le Mans Crescent inside Bolton Library and Museum — with "Alma Unit" signs posted on lampposts in the crescent.
As excitement builds for the new series, an extract from the first episode in which Alma, Grandma Joan (Lorraine Ashbourne) and Jim (Nicholas Asbury) discuss the merits of Joan’s beloved spam.
The clip was released at 10am today, Friday.
Nerys Evans, executive producer and expectation’s creative director at Scripted has previously said: “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.”
The first series of Alma’s Not Normal is also available on BBC iPlayer and can also be seen on Britbox Nordic and Australia and CBC Gem in Canada.
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