Alma's Not Normal

Alma's Not Normal
BBC programme image showing show logo and the cast (Nicholas Asbury, Sophie Willan, Siobhan Finneran and Lorraine Ashbourne)
GenreComedy
Created bySophie Willan
Written bySophie Willan
Directed byAndrew Chaplin
Starring
Narrated bySophie Willan
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes12
Production
Executive producersNerys Evans
Sophie Willan
ProducerGill Isles
Running time30 minutes
Original release
NetworkBBC Two
Release7 April 2020 (2020-04-07) –
11 November 2024 (2024-11-11)

Alma's Not Normal is a British sitcom first broadcast as a pilot episode on BBC Two in April 2020. The series follows the eponymous Alma, from Bolton, as she tries to give her life meaning and the "fabulous" outcome she has always dreamed of, while coping with the strained relationships of her family that saw her spend time in care, something else which she is trying to reconcile. The series is written by and stars Sophie Willan, and is inspired by her own experiences of the care system.

Willan won the 2021 BAFTA Television award for best comedy writer for the pilot episode.[1] A full six episode series was commissioned for broadcast in 2021. A second series was commissioned in 2022,[2] which premiered on 7 October 2024.[3]

Series 2 is the last, although Willan has said that there is a Christmas special in the works, however this has not been confirmed. [4]

Background

Willan wrote the first draft around 2014 on the back of the austerity measures of the Cameron Government, that Willan says "felt really negative for welfare recipients, mental health [care] and social services recipients – people like my mother, people who've had difficulties."[1] As Laura Minor argues, "Alma's Not Normal provides commentary on the gendered and classed impacts of austerity in the North."[5]

Willan won the BBC's Caroline Aherne Bursary in 2017 which awarded her £5,000 to develop her ideas along with mentorship from the BBC's Comedy Commissioning Editor, Kate Daughton, to develop a script.[6] The script was performed as a rehearsed reading in front of an invited audience including Controller of BBC Two, Patrick Holland. Willan was given a commission for a pilot on the spot.[7] Willan wrote the script for the first series of the show during the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]

Cast and characters

  • Sophie Willan as Alma Nuthall: Alma is a working-class aspiring actress in her thirties who has recently been through a break-up. She spent some of her childhood in care and works as an escort, having left school without qualifications.
  • Jayde Adams as Leanne, Alma's confident and sexually promiscuous best friend from Bristol and main confidant of the series. Alma describes Leanne as having the "raw sex appeal of Debbie Harry but the mannerisms of a truck driver."
  • Siobhan Finneran as Lin Nuthall: Alma's mother. Lin struggles with mental health issues and a heroin addiction that meant she was unable to look after Alma during childhood, and she has a troubled relationship with Alma in adulthood.
  • Lorraine Ashbourne as Joan Nuthall: Joan is Lin's mother and Alma's grandmother. She raised Alma as a child when Lin was unable to. Alma regularly visits Joan as an adult.
  • James Baxter as Anthony, Alma's ex-boyfriend (Series 1)
  • Maizie Wickson as Young Alma
  • Nicholas Asbury as Jim: Lin's schizophrenic boyfriend
  • Jemma Churchill as Sandra
  • Kenneth Collard as David (Series 2)
  • Tupele Dorgu as Cheryl, a fitness teacher (Series 1)
  • Amy Gledhill as Lesley
  • Julie Hesmondhalgh as Aunty Ange (Series 2)
  • Dave Jones as Bill
  • Nick Mohammed as Jules Goodwin (Series 2)
  • Selina Mosinski as Aunty Evie (Series 2)
  • Steve Pemberton as Uncle Dickie (Series 2)
  • Katie Redford as Jane (Series 1)
  • Dave Spikey as Ian, a drama teacher
  • Sue Vincent as Trish (Series 1)

Episodes

SeriesEpisodesOriginally airedAve. UK viewers
(millions)[8]		Ave. UK viewers
(millions)[8]
First airedLast aired
P17 April 2020 (2020-04-07)TBATBA
1613 September 2021 (2021-09-13)18 October 2021 (2021-10-18)TBATBA
267 October 2024 (2024-10-07)11 November 2024 (2024-11-11)TBATBA

Pilot (2020)

No. in
series		Title [9]Directed by [9]Written by [9]Original release date [9]BBC Two broadcast [9]U.K viewers
(millions) [8]
Pilot"Alma's Not Normal"Andrew ChaplinSophie Willan7 April 2020 (2020-04-07)7 April 2020N/A (<1.66)[a]
  1. ^ Not reported in the weekly top 15 programmes for four-screen viewer ratings.

Series 1 (2021)

Episode one is the pilot episode, renamed as Feng Suey.

No.
overall		No. in
series		Title [9]Directed by [9]Written by [9]Original release date [9]BBC Two broadcast [9]U.K viewers
(millions) [8]
11"Feng Suey"Andrew ChaplinSophie Willan13 September 2021 (2021-09-13)13 September 20211.08
Alma cycles to a job centre where she wishes to seek employment but is specific about the type of job she wants to do. Carol the job centre worker forces her to apply for sandwich shop Sub'N'Go but Alma is less than keen. Alma visits her friend Leanne at the cafe to discuss her ex-boyfriend Anthony owing her money and leaving her for a younger girlfriend. Alma plans to visit Anthony to get money off him but they end up having sex. Alma visits her heroin addict mum Lin and convinces her grandmother Joan to reconnect with her after five years. Alma decides to apply for an escort agency.
22"Ruby"Andrew ChaplinSophie Willan13 September 2021 (2021-09-13)20 September 2021N/A
Alma's job at Sub'n'Go doesn't work out and she begins work as an escort.
33"The Richard Gere"Andrew ChaplinSophie Willan13 September 2021 (2021-09-13)27 September 2021N/A
Alma attempts to reconcile Lin and Joan at an upmarket restaurant.
44"Boom and Bust"Andrew ChaplinSophie Willan13 September 2021 (2021-09-13)4 October 2021N/A
Joan reluctantly lets Lin move back in with her as her section has ended.
55"On Record"Andrew ChaplinSophie Willan13 September 2021 (2021-09-13)11 October 2021N/A
Alma receives her care records from the council, and wins an acting part after a successful audition.
66"Sticking With You"Andrew ChaplinSophie Willan13 September 2021 (2021-09-13)18 October 2021N/A
Lin runs away from Joan and Alma and back to heroin. Alma decides to follow her dreams as an actress.

Series 2 (2024)

No.
overall		No. in
series		Title [9]Directed by [9]Written by [9]Original release date [9]BBC Two broadcast [9]U.K viewers
(millions) [8]
71"No Going Back"Andrew ChaplinSophie WillanTBA7 October 2024TBD
82"Padaming All Over the Place"Andrew ChaplinSophie WillanTBA14 October 2024TBD
93"Who the F Is Alice?"Andrew ChaplinSophie WillanTBA21 October 2024TBD
104"The Black and White Movie"Andrew ChaplinSophie WillanTBA28 October 2024TBD
115"Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien"Andrew ChaplinSophie WillanTBA4 November 2024TBD
126"Never Give a Hamster Matches"Andrew ChaplinSophie WillanTBA11 November 2024TBD

Reception

In her four star review of the pilot episode broadcast in 2020, Lucy Mangan in The Guardian praised the fine cast and the "swiftly and surely drawn characters" and commented on the episode's "emotional undertow, that, with perfect timing, surfaces to punch the viewer in the stomach and leave them breathless with sorrow". The episode was summed up as a bleak, brilliant comedy that was far from ordinary.[10] Writing in Chortle, Steve Bennett praised the episode for the way that it introduced "a cast of intriguing, sympathetic characters we'd like to hear more from" praising them for being "complex, authentic people portrayed in a way we don’t usually see on television". He praised the "universally strong performances" of the cast and the humanity of the characters bringing lightness to what could have been a bleak set of subject matter.[11]

The Daily Mirror's Ian Hyland called it "Phoenix Nights meets Fleabag, guided by the spirit of Victoria Wood" adding that the pilot convinced him "that BBC2 has a massive gem on its hands".[12]

Ben Dowell of The Times said, "Willan's writing is skilled and clearly very personal...uplifting and strangely enchanting".[13]

Awards

In April 2021, Willan won the Comedy Writer BAFTA for the pilot episode.[14] The 2021 series won the award for best comedy programme at the Royal Television Society North West Awards.[15]

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2021 British Academy Television Craft Awards Best Writer: Comedy Sophie Willan Won [16]
Royal Television Society Awards Comedy Performance – Female Sophie Willan Nominated [17]
2022 Broadcast Awards Best Comedy Programme Alma's Not Normal Won [18]
British Academy Television Awards Best Female Comedy Performance Sophie Willan Won [19]
Best Scripted Comedy Alma's Not Normal Nominated [20]
Writer: Comedy Sophie Willan Nominated [21]
Broadcasting Press Guild Awards Best Comedy Alma's Not Normal Won [22]
Royal Television Society Awards Comedy Performance - Female Sophie Willan Nominated [23]
Scripted Comedy Alma's Not Normal Won [24]
Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards Director - Comedy Drama & Situation Comedy Andrew Chaplin Won [25]

References

  1. ^ a b c "'I went to school drunk in a bikini': how Sophie Willan turned her chaotic life into sitcom gold". the Guardian. 6 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Award-winning Alma's Not Normal to return for second series on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer". Archived from the original on 22 April 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  3. ^ "TV tonight: the return of the fabulously funny Alma's Not Normal". theguardian.com. 14 October 2024.
  4. ^ Aroesti, Rachel (7 October 2024). "Alma's Not Normal series two review – pretty much the perfect comedy". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  5. ^ Minor, Laura (2023). "Alma's (Not) Normal: Normalising Working-Class Women in/on BBC TV Comedy" (PDF). Journal of British Cinema and Television. 20 (2): 137–161. doi:10.3366/jbctv.2023.0665. S2CID 257976932.
  6. ^ "Bolton comedian Sophie Willan wins Caroline Aherne Bursary". bbc.com. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Alma's Not Normal". bbc.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Four Screen Dashboard (See relevant channel and week(s))". BARB. Archived from the original on 2 February 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Ghosts – Episode guide". BBC One. Choose appropriate episode. Archived from the original on 21 May 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  10. ^ "Alma's Not Normal review – this bleak, brilliant comedy is far from ordinary". the Guardian. 7 April 2020.
  11. ^ Bennett, Steve. "Alma's Not Normal: Reviews". www.chortle.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  12. ^ "Ian Hyland – On last night's telly". The Mirror. 8 April 2020. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  13. ^ "What's on TV and radio tonight". The Times. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Bafta TV Awards 2021: Winners and nominees in full". BBC News. 6 June 2021. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  15. ^ Bourne, Dianne (21 November 2021). "Corrie's Sally Carman flooded with praise as she wins RTS Award". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  16. ^ "BAFTA TV 2021: The Winners and Nominations for the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards and British Academy Television Craft Awards". 28 April 2021. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  17. ^ "RTS Programme Awards 2021". 23 October 2020. Archived from the original on 4 March 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  18. ^ "Winners". Broadcast Awards 2022. Archived from the original on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  19. ^ "BAFTA Television 2022: The Winners". 29 March 2022. Archived from the original on 30 March 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  20. ^ "BAFTA Television 2022: The Winners". 29 March 2022. Archived from the original on 30 March 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  21. ^ "BAFTA Television 2022: The Winners". 29 March 2022. Archived from the original on 30 March 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  22. ^ "2022". 2 April 2022. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  23. ^ "RTS Programme Awards 2022". 21 October 2021. Archived from the original on 28 October 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  24. ^ "RTS Programme Awards 2022". 21 October 2021. Archived from the original on 28 October 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  25. ^ "RTS Craft & Design Awards 2022". 5 December 2022. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2023.

Read other articles:

Scott E. Parazynski

American astronaut (born 1961) Scott ParazynskiParazynski in 2008BornScott Edward Parazynski (1961-07-28) July 28, 1961 (age 62)Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.EducationStanford University (BS, MD)Space careerNASA astronautTime in space57d 15h 34mSelectionNASA Group 14 (1992)Total EVAs7Total EVA time47h 5mMissionsSTS-66STS-86STS-95STS-100STS-120Mission insignia Scott Edward Parazynski (born July 28, 1961, in Little Rock, Arkansas) is an American physician and a former NASA astronaut. A veter...

 

Днепровский лиман

Днепровский лиманукр. Дніпровський лиман Характеристики Средняя глубина5 м Впадающие рекиДнепр, Южный Буг Расположение 46°32′20″ с. ш. 32°03′58″ в. д.HGЯO Страна Украина ОбластиХерсонская область, Николаевская область РайоныХерсонский район, Скадов...

 

Komando Resor Militer 143

Komando Resor Militer 143/Halu OleoLambang Korem 143/Halu OleoDibentuk30 Mei 1960Negara IndonesiaCabangTNI Angkatan DaratTipe unitKorem Tipe APeranSatuan TeritorialBagian dariKodam XIV/HasanuddinMakoremKendari, Sulawesi TenggaraJulukanKorem 143/HOPelindungTentara Nasional IndonesiaMotoSatria Dharma UtamaBaret H I J A U MaskotDaun dan PedangUlang tahun30 MeiSitus webkorem143.tni-ad.mil.idTokohKomandanBrigadir Jenderal TNI Ayub AkbarKepala StafKolonel Inf. Singgih Pambudi Arinto,...

Berkanan

Berkanan Nome Proto-germanico Antico inglese Antico norreno *Ƀerkanan Beorc Bjarken Significato betulla betulla/pioppo? betulla Forma Fuþark antico Fuþorc Fuþark recente Unicode ᛒU+16D2 ᛒU+16D2 ᛓU+16D3 Traslitterazione b Trascrizione b IPA [β], [b] [b] [b], [p] Ordine alfab. 18 13 *Berkanan (in italiano betulla) è il nome proto-germanico ricostruito della runa del Fuþark antico b (carattere Unicode ᛒ). Tale runa compare anche nel Fuþorc anglosassone e frisone c...

 

Pemilihan umum Presiden Indonesia 2024

Artikel ini membahas suatu peristiwa terkini. Informasi pada halaman ini dapat berubah setiap saat seiring dengan perkembangan peristiwa dan laporan berita awal mungkin tidak dapat diandalkan. Pembaruan terakhir untuk artikel ini mungkin tidak mencerminkan informasi terkini. Silakan perbaiki artikel ini atau diskusikan perubahan pada halaman pembicaraan, tetapi harap perhatikan bahwa pembaruan tanpa rujukan yang sah dan tepercaya akan dihapus. (Pelajari cara dan kapan saatnya untuk menghapus...

 

Anne Dudek

Anne DudekDudek pada San Diego Comic-Con International 2011LahirAnne Louise Dudek22 Maret 1975 (umur 49)Boston, Massachusetts, Amerika serikatAlmamaterNorthwestern UniversityPekerjaanAktrisTahun aktif2000–sekarangSuami/istriMatthew Dana Heller ​ ​(m. 2008; c. 2016)​Anak2 Anne Louise Dudek (lahir 22 Maret 1975) adalah seorang aktris Amerika Serikat.[1] Dia dikenal karena memerankan Tiffany Wilson dalam film White Chicks, Dani...

Jackson Guice

American artistThis article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article. (November 2021)Jackson GuiceBorn (1961-06-27) June 27, 1961 (age 62)Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S.NationalityAmericanArea(s)Penciller, InkerPseudonym(s)Butch GuiceNotable worksAction ComicsThe FlashMicronautsRuseApocalypseAwardsInkpot Award (2015)[1] Jackson Butch Guice (born...

 

دوغ فرانس

هذه المقالة يتيمة إذ تصل إليها مقالات أخرى قليلة جدًا. فضلًا، ساعد بإضافة وصلة إليها في مقالات متعلقة بها. (يوليو 2019) دوغ فرانس   معلومات شخصية الميلاد 26 أبريل 1953   دايتون  الوفاة 8 أبريل 2016 (62 سنة) [1]  لاس فيغاس  مواطنة الولايات المتحدة  الحياة العملية المدر�...

 

27th Lancers

Disbanded British cavalry unit For the drum corps, see 27th Lancers Drum and Bugle Corps. 27th LancersCap Badge of the 27th Lancers ca 1941[1]Active1941–1945Country United KingdomBranch British ArmyTypeCavalry RegimentRoleReconnaissanceSize1 RegimentMilitary unit The 27th Lancers was a British Army cavalry regiment from 1941 to 1945. History The regiment was raised in June 1941 from a cadre of personnel taken from the 12th Royal Lancers. It was assigned to the 11th Armoured Div...

East Lake (Wuhan)

Lake in Wuhan, China This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: East Lake Wuhan – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message) East LakeDong Hu东湖 (Chinese)East LakeShow map of ChinaEast LakeShow map of HubeiLocationWuchang District an...

 

1971 in Cyprus

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2020) List of events ← 1970 1969 1968 1971 in Cyprus → 1972 1973 1974 Decades: 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s See also:Other events in 1971 · Timeline of Cypriot history Events in the year 1971 in Cyprus. Incumbents President: Makarios III President of the Parliament: Glafcos Clerides Events Akritas Chlorakas, a football team from Chloraka, Paphos, was founded.[1] Deaths Main article: Death...

 

Палатальный носовой согласный

Палатальный носовой согласныйɲ Изображение Юникод (hex) U+272 HTML (decimal) &#626; X-SAMPA J Киршенбаум n^ МФА Брайля ⠿ и ..... образец звука Палатальный носовой согласный (среднеязычный носовой) — носовой согласный звук, встречающийся в некоторых языках. Похож на русское «нь» [nʲ],...

2008 United States Senate election in Colorado

2008 United States Senate election in Colorado ← 2002 November 4, 2008 2014 →   Nominee Mark Udall Bob Schaffer Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,231,049 990,784 Percentage 52.80% 42.49% County results Precinct resultsUdall:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >9...

 

新竹客運

新竹汽車客運股份有限公司Hsinchu Bus Company, Ltd.原文名称新竹客運、竹客公司類型股份有限公司股票代號非上市統一編號46476507 公司前身台灣軌道株式會社成立1919年，​105年前​（1919）代表人物董事長：許一平總部 中華民國（臺灣）新竹市東區民族路16-1號標語口號服務、保養、團結、榮譽、創新業務範圍新竹市、新竹縣、桃園市、苗栗縣、台北市、台中市产业汽...

 

Обер-гофмаршал

Н. П. Шереметев, обер-гофмаршал при дворе Павла I с 1797 года по 1800 год. Обер-гофмаршал (от нем. Oberhofmarschall) — придворный чин II класса в Табели о рангах, введенный в 1726 году[1]. До 1726 года чин назывался обер-маршал. Обер-гофмаршал принадлежал к первым чинам Двора. Ему �...

28th South African Parliament

Parliament of South Africa, 2024–2029 28th South African Parliament ←27th 29th→Houses of Parliament in Cape Town, South AfricaOverviewJurisdictionSouth AfricaMeeting placeCape TownTerm14 June 2024 (2024-06-14)–National Assembly of South AfricaComposition of the National AssemblyMembers400SpeakerThoko Didiza (ANC)Deputy SpeakerAnnelie Lotriet (DA)National Council of ProvincesComposition of the National Council of ProvincesMembers90ChairpersonRefilwe Mtsweni-Tsipa...

 

Karl Patrick Lauk

Estonian cyclist (born 1997) Karl Patrick LaukLauk in 2016Personal informationFull nameKarl Patrick LaukBorn (1997-01-09) 9 January 1997 (age 27)Kuressaare, EstoniaHeight1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)Weight69 kg (152 lb)Team informationCurrent teamHuansheng–SCOM–Taishan Sport Cycling TeamDisciplineRoadRoleRiderRider typeSprinterPuncheurAmateur teams2016–2018Pro Immo Nicolas Roux2020–2021Pro Immo Nicolas Roux[1] Professional teams2017Astana (sta...

 

Indice de Haines

L’indice de Haines (ou indice de sévérité dans la basse atmosphère) est un nombre sans dimension utilisant divers paramètres météorologiques pour estimer le potentiel de développement des feux de forêt déjà existant dans une masse d'air sec et instable. Il a été proposé par Donald Haines, un météorologue américain, en 1988 et est utilisé dans plusieurs pays[1]. Cet indice est beaucoup moins complet que l'indice forêt météo mais peut être utilisé en complémentarité. ...

Fontanone di Ponte Sisto

Fountain in Rome, Italy Fontanone di Ponte SistoFountainFountain today in Piazza TrilussaLocationRomeClick on the map for a fullscreen viewCoordinates: 41°53′30″N 12°28′11″E / 41.8916861°N 12.4697981°E / 41.8916861; 12.4697981 The Fontana or Fontanone di Ponte Sisto, once known as the Fontanone dei Cento Preti, is an early 17th-century, monumental fountain now located in Piazza Trilussa, facing the south end of the Ponte Sisto, in Trastevere, Rome, Italy. I...

 

Frederick Louis of Württemberg-Winnental

German general This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: Frederick Louis of Württemberg-Winnental – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (February 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Frederick Louis of Württemberg-WinnentalPortrait by Jacob van SchuppenBorn5 November 1690Stuttgar...