Bolton's Sophie Willan enjoyed the red carpet treatment in Manchester for the first showing of the second series of hit comedy Alma's Not Normal.

She joined fellow stars of the comedy Lorraine Ashbourne, Siobhan Finneran, Jayde Adams and Nick Asbury.

They enjoyed a sneak preview of the first two episodes, which were screened to a packed audience in the Everyman Cinema.

The new series sees Alma back in Bolton and desperate for things to be different.

But just as she starts to settle back into her Bolton life, grandma Joan has some shocking news that’s going to change everything…

Sophie said: “It’s fabulous to be here in Manchester sharing a first glimpse of the new series with everyone. I’m dead nervous, but I hope people love it as much as we loved making it.”

The series will return to BBC Two and BBC iPlayer in the autumn.

Sophie was was spotted filming in Horwich last year, in the Green Machine bike shop.

She said at the time: ": “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.”

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Bolton-born BAFTA luminary Sophie is patron of the Backup North West charity.

Her experiences growing up in Bolton, including vital support from Backup, inspired the BBC2 programme.

Nerys Evans, executive producer, Expectation added: “The Bolton setting is so key in Alma’s Not Normal, so it’s brilliant to premier the series on Sophie’s home turf. The show was made by such a talented team, in front of and behind the camera, so we’re incredibly proud of their work and can’t wait for people to watch.”

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 the inaugural winner of the BBC’s Caroline Aherne Bursary Award.

Alma’s Not Normal is an Expectation production for the BBC, written and executive produced by Sophie Willan.

It is commissioned by Jon Petrie, Director of Comedy Commissioning.

The first series of Alma’s Not Normal is available to watch on BBC iPlayer