'Funny Woman' Season 2 Takes Sophie to France

PBS' newest addition to the period drama lineup, Funny Woman (based on the novel Funny Girl by Nick Hornby, with the title altered for obvious reasons), was commissioned for a Season 2 by producer Sky around the same time it landed an American distributor. As luck would have it, the six-episode first season premiered in the U.S. just before filming for the next round of episodes began, a silent promise to U.S. fans that the wait between seasons wouldn't be that long. (Assuming that Season 2 comes to PBS, which is not yet officially confirmed.) However, if PBS is picking it up, that confirmation will come soon, as Season 2 is gearing up to air on the U.K. side of the pond in September 2024, and the first images take Gemma Arterton's character Barbara Parker/Sophie Straw to France. 

For those who don't remember Season 1, Arterton stars in the series as Blackpool Beauty Queen Barbara Parker. She decides that living in a small northern town is for the birds and heads south to London to break into television. She lands a sleazy agent, Brian (Rupert Everett), who decides "Barbara Parker" is not a glamorous enough name, rechristens her Sophie Straw, and pretends he's going to get her a career. 

Barbara goes around him double quickly and gets herself cast in a new series co-starring the handsome Clive Richardson (Tom Bateman). She and Clive wind up having an affair until she discovers he's cheating on her. After she dumps him live on TV, her career looks like it's about to go up in flames, but the writers decide to reconfigure the series so she becomes the sole star, which becomes a massive hit.

Here's the Season 2 synopsis:

The second series finds Sophie on a high. She is the nation’s favorite TV comedy star; she’s got a group of good friends, and her romance with Dennis is full of promise. But trouble is just around 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 glamorous French movie heartthrob. 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to London, determined to get the gang back together and to create a new show that reflects her real life and challenges outdated cultural conventions.

Arterton will once again be joined by the Season 1 ensemble that includes Clare-Hope Ashitey (Top Boy) and Alexa Davies (COBRA) as BFFs Diane and Marjorie, Matthew Beard (Vienna Blood) and Leo Bill (Becoming Elizabeth) as Bill and Tony, Arsher Ali (Everyone Else Burns) as boyfriend Dennis, Emily Bevan (The Full Monty) as Dennis soon-to-be-ex-wife Edith, Alistair Petrie (Sex Education) as BBC boss Ted Sargeant, David Threlfall (Passenger) as father George Parker, Olivia Williams (Dune: Prophecy) as mum Gloria, Rosie Cavaliero (Gentleman Jack) as Aunt Marie, and Doon Mackichan (Good Omens) as Miss Sykes.

Season 2 adds an entire roster of new faces to the cast, including Gemma Whelan (D.I. Ray), Marcus Rutherford (The Wheel of Time), Lydia Leonard (Ten Percent), Tim Key (Wicked Little Letters), Roisin Conaty (After Life), Rory Keenan (The Regime), Lydia Wilson (Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue), Jack Docherty (Monarch of the Glen), Josie Lawrence (Father Brown), and Steve Zissis (The Changeling).

All four of Funny Woman's Season 2 installments are written by Morwenna Banks (Slow Horses), with Kevin Cecil and Andy Riley (Veep). Oliver Parker (The Great Escaper) directs all episodes. The new series is executive produced by Banks, Arterton, and Hornby, with Andrea Calderwood, Gail Egan, Jessica Parker, and Jessica Malik. 

Funny Woman Season 2 will debut on Sky in the first week of September 2024. PBS has not yet confirmed when Season 2 will come stateside, but it is expected to arrive sometime in early 2025.