Tim Key and Roisin Conaty join Funny Woman

Work starts on series two of Gemma Arterton's comedy-drama

Tim Key and Roisin Conaty have joined the second series of Sky’s comedy-drama Funny Woman.

Production has just got under way on the new series of four episodes, in which Gemma Arterton plays comedian Sophie Straw trying to make it in the sexist world of 1960s entertainment.

Also joining the cast are Steve Zissi, Marcus Rutherford and Upstart Crow’s Gemma Whelan – alongside returning stars including Arsher Ali, David Threlfall and Rosie Cavaliero.

Shot in Liverpool and elsewhere in North West England, the show was adapted for the screen by Morwenna Banks from Nick Hornby's best-selling novel Funny Girl.

Arterton as Funny Woman Sophie

Series two – which is due to air later this year 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 French 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But Sophie returns to London, determined to create a new show which reflects her real life and challenges outdated cultural conventions.

It has not been revealed what roles the new cast members will play.

Banks, who is also an executive producer, said: ‘It’s a thrill to dive back into the world of 1960’s London - with the extraordinary cast and crew of Funny Woman series 2.

‘Thanks to the genius of Gemma Arterton as Nick Hornby's heroine Sophie Straw - a whole host of new guest stars have joined us.’

Funny Woman production credits

Made by: Potboiler and Rebel Park Productions, in association with Sky Studios
Writers: Morwenna Banks, Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley
Executive producers: Anil Gupta, Nick Hornby, Morwenna Banks, Gemma Arterton, Andrea Calderwood, Gail Egan, Jessica Parker and Jessica Malik
Series producer: Ross Williams
Director: Oliver Parker

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Published: 12 Jan 2024