'Funny Woman' Season 2 Goes Double-Gemma, Adds Gemma Whelan to Cast

Funny Woman has only aired the first episode of Season 1 on most PBS stations, but over in the U.K., Sky Max is gearing up to start filming Season 2. Along with the start of production in Liverpool, the production studio also announced new casting for the new season, slated to air in the U.K. sometime in 2024. As expected, Gemma Arterton returns as the title character, Barbara Parker, who will become known to the British public as Sophie Straw as her rising fame eclipses that of the men around her. But she won't be the only comic Gemma on set for the second season, as Gemma Whelan is slated to join the cast for Season 2.

Ironically, Whelan is mainly known in America for dramatic roles, considering that her career started in comedy. Between Upstart Crow and Horrible Histories, the British public has experienced her comic talents first and foremost. But Americans were introduced to her via Game of Thrones. Though her role in Killing Eve was semi-comic, most of what's come over here and hit big are roles like Marian Lister in Gentleman Jack, a one-episode guest star turn in The Crown, DS Sarah Collins in The Tower, and DCI Kerry Henderson in D.I. Ray.

Whelan joining the cast of Funny Woman is another chance for American audiences to be reminded how funny she can be, especially in roles that require her to wear period costumes. Moreover, with Gemma Arterton's Sophie spreading her career wings and experimenting with parlaying her small-screen success to the big screen big time, Season 2 has a whole new world to explore.