As filming starts on series two of Daisy Haggard’s comedy-drama

Meera Syal and Adrian Edmondson have joined the cast of  Daisy Haggard’s comedy-drama Back To Life.

The news comes as filming began on the second series this week, ready tol air on BBC Three later this year.

Producers Two Brothers Pictures have not disclosed what roles Syal and Edmondson will play in the series.

Haggard, who co-wrote the show with Laura Solon, plays Miri Matteson, returning to life in her quiet hometown after 18 years in prison.

She said: ‘Laura and I are thrilled to finally start shooting the second series of Back to Life. We were blown away by the reception to the first series, so it was both nerve wracking and exciting to write season 2! We can’t wait for you all to see the next chapter.’

Series one was nominated for an International Emmy and won acclaim from critics, with the Hollywood Reporter calling it ‘a wonderfully nuanced story that's both extremely funny and tragically sad'.

The cast returning for the second series - which airs on Showtime in the US - includes Adeel Akhtar  as Billy, Geraldine James s Miri’s mum Caroline, Christine Bottomley   as Mandy, and Jo Martin as Miri’s parole officer Janice.

Shane Allen, director of comedy commissioning at the BBC said: ‘The clever and twisted storytelling delves even deeper in this propulsive mystery peppered with playful black humour. This is a golden age for UK comedy talent to reach audiences across the world with the BBC kick-starting the journey.’

Created by: Daisy Haggard
Written by: Daisy Haggard and Laura Solon
Made by: Two Brothers Pictures
Executive producers: Harry and Jack Williams, Sarah Hammond, Chris Sweeney, Daisy Haggard and Laura Solon
Directed by: Ella Jones
Produced by: Catherine Gosling Fuller
Commissioned by: Shane Allen, BBC director of comedy commissioning and Fiona Campbell,controller for BBC Three, and by Gary Levine and Jana Winograde, presidents of entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc
Casting: Shaheen Baig Casting
BBC commissioning editor: Tanya Qureshi

Published: 31 Mar 2021