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Sophie Willan’s sitcom Alma’s Not Normal returns for its highly anticipated second series, four years after the semi-autobiographical debut lifted audiences during the lockdown gloom. The show follows Alma, an aspiring working-class actress from Bolton whose mum Lin is struggling with heroin addiction and mental health issues. Though the premise may sound bleak, humour is always at the forefront. This time around, cancer, which personally affected Willan and her family, features prominently as Alma’s grandmother Joan receives a diagnosis.
Willan’s past experiences influence many aspects of Alma’s life. She was raised by her grandmother Denise, between stints in foster care, and turned to sex work to make ends meet before catching the acting bug. Alma was born after Willan landed the Caroline Aherne bursary in 2017, which develops new comedy talent. Willan wrote the new series with her political concerns in mind, wanting to show the impact of the mental health and care systems on vulnerable women.
Siobhan Finneran, known for roles in hit series such as Downton Abbey, Happy Valley, and Benidorm, plays Alma’s mum, an often desperate but funny, angry, and tenacious woman who is stuck in the healthcare system’s revolving door as she tries to come off heroin. Lorraine Ashbourne, who portrays Alma’s grandma, finds her character’s lust for life and tough exterior inspiring, while Jayde Adams, who plays Alma’s best friend Leanne, appreciates how Willan wrote her character with her in mind.
Playwright and screenwriter James Graham recently called for more opportunities for working-class people in the TV industry. Delivering the MacTaggart lecture at the Edinburgh TV Festival in August, he cited figures suggesting only 8% of people currently working in television are from a working-class background. Alma’s Not Normal is a show like no other and Willan is a role model for people from challenging or diverse backgrounds who aspire to achieve their dreams despite the odds. Alma’s Not Normal will air on BBC Two and iPlayer starting October 7, 2021
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