Funny Woman season two FIRST LOOK: Gemma Arterton reprises her role as beauty queen Barbara Parker for new helping of swinging sixties based comedy-drama Have YOU got a story? Email [email protected] By Madison Burgess For Mailonline Published: 20:08 BST, 6 August 2024 | Updated: 20:16 BST, 6 August 2024 e-mail View comments Sky revealed first-look pictures for the second season of Gemma Arterton 's award-winning comedy–drama series Funny Woman on Tuesday. The 38-year-old British actress has transported back to the swinging sixties once again to reprise her role as Blackpool beauty queen Barbara Parker - and the nation's favourite comedian 'Sophie Straw'.
She looks worlds away from her usual brunette self as she transforms into the blonde 1960s beauty in the sneak peak snaps. In one preview, the character appears to be backstage at one of her shows, looking glamorous in a flowery top and green trousers as she prepares to wow the crowds. Another shows Gemma's character getting close to Arsher Ali's Dennis Mahindra, who the comedian has a fledgling romance with.
Sky revealed first-look pictures for the second season of Gemma Arterton 's award-winning comedy–drama series, Funny Woman on Tuesday The 38-year-old British actress has transported back to the swinging sixties once again to reprise her role as Blackpool beauty queen Barbara Parker - and the nation's favourite comedian 'Sophie Straw' One preview shows Gemma's character getting close to Arsher Ali's Dennis Mahindra, who the comedian has a fledgling romance with Read More Gemma Arterton, 38, hits the beach in a yellow swimsuit as the former Bond girl unwinds in Sardinia Meanwhile a third highlights Barbara's success as Sophie Straw, as she's seen signing autographs for eager fans. The series, which is coming exclusively to Sky MAX and NOW on September 6, will see Sophie attempt to juggle her career and love life. Season two is also set to explore the themes of love, gender equality, LGBTQ rights, representation in comedy, all against the backdrop and cultural explosion of sixties.
It opens with 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' divorce will take three years, Sophie's new sitcom flops and she uncovers a devastating family secret. She escapes the turmoil by taking a leading role in a film opposite a glamorous French movie heartthrob.
The film is a hit and Sophie's slick new US agent offers her a fresh start in Hollywood, but she returns to London, determined to get the gang back together and to create a new show which reflects her real life and challenges outdated cultural conventions. New faces starring in season two are Steve Zissis, Marcus Rutherford, Tim Key, Gemma Whelan and Roisin Conaty. The series, which is coming exclusively to Sky MAX and NOW on September 6, will see Sophie attempt to juggle her career and love life The first series followed Barbara's journey as she went from a Blackpool beauty queen to comedy star, named Sophie Straw, while dealing with the male-dominated sitcom industry present in 1960s London Meanwhile, Arsher Ali is returning as Dennis Mohindra, David Threlfall as George Parker, Rosie Cavaliero as Aunt Marie Parker and Alexa Davies as Marjorie Harrison.
Also returning are Matthew Beard as Bill Gardiner, Leo Bill as Tony, Clare-Hope Ashitey as Diane, and Alistair Petrie as Ted Sargeant. Funny Woman season one premiered in October 2023 as a six-part series based on Nick Hornby's 2014 smash-hit novel. It followed Barbara's journey as she went from a Blackpool beauty queen to comedy star, named Sophie Straw, while dealing with the male-dominated sitcom industry present in 1960s London.
Speaking about series two, Morwenna Banks, the writer and executive producer on the show 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 two. 'Thanks to the genius of Gemma Arterton as Nick Hornby's heroine Sophie Straw - a whole host of new guest stars have joined us. 'We welcome stellar performances from Steve Zissis, Marcus Rutherford, Tim Key, Gemma Whelan, Roisin Conaty and many more .
..Tune in Turn On and don't Drop Out'.
Gemma opened up about how she felt an instant affinity for the role to MailOnline last year, saying: 'Barbara is such a great character and it was an iconic time for comedy, for culture. Gemma opened up about how she felt an instant affinity for the role to MailOnline last year, saying: 'Barbara is such a great character and it was an iconic time for comedy, for culture' Speaking about her own struggles, Gemma admitted: 'People judge you by how you talk. There have been times I've not got jobs because it was thought I wasn't posh enough' 'More edgy working-class humour started to come through, and for a woman to be in that world was unusual at that time.
Read More Gemma Arterton has the time of her life on the set of Funny Woman in Manchester 'I could hear her voice in my head, so when I was sent the script for the pilot episode it felt serendipitous.' She spoke about how hard it was for women, especially those with working-class backgrounds and northern accents to break through in the comedy industry. Gemma explained: 'In America they had I Love Lucy and The Mary Tyler Moore Show, but we didn't have any women leading their own shows until the 70s and 80s when Victoria Wood and Jennifer Saunders started coming through.
'Comedy was particularly sexist, and women were just accessories. The roles they got were the sexualised Benny Hill or Carry On parts. It was quite extraordinary for a woman to make it in comedy in the UK in the 60s.
' Speaking about her own struggles, Gemma admitted: 'People judge you by how you talk. There have been times I've not got jobs because it was thought I wasn't posh enough.' She added: 'Sometimes there are characters you have an affinity with, and Barbara is one of them.
It felt natural to play her, and there's a lot of stuff in there that I got to let out. 'Things are way better than they were but there's still an undercurrent of the things Barbara was up against, because old school people still work in this industry. 'Hopefully lots of people will be able to relate to that because it's not just this industry that's affected.
Gemma worked hard to perfect her Blackpool accent, taking advice from a friend from the town, and also working with a voice coach (pictured last year) 'One of the things Barbara struggles with is people judging her physically rather than on what she can do, and that happens a lot with women in the workplace.' Gemma worked hard to perfect her Blackpool accent, taking advice from a friend from the town, and also working with a voice coach. She said: 'He found this recording of these women from Blackpool chatting about random stuff and I listened to that religiously.
'Barbara's roots are what define her, what make her special. At that time there weren't many actresses with regional accents, and it's only recently they've been accepted in British culture.' The new series of Funny Woman will launch on Sky Max and streaming service NOW on September 6 TV Shows Gemma Arterton London TV content Share or comment on this article: Funny Woman season two FIRST LOOK: Gemma Arterton reprises her role as beauty queen Barbara Parker for new helping of swinging sixties based comedy-drama e-mail Add comment.
