Alma (Sophie Willan) is back in town and desperate for things to be different.
She bags herself a talent agent, who turns out to be a bit of a blagger. She buys herself some new wheels, that she can鈥檛 afford. And she lands herself an acting role that is completely demoralising. It鈥檚 safe to say, things are not panning out for Alma.
Meanwhile Lin (Siobhan Finneran) is back in hospital and has discovered a penchant for witchcraft. Jim (Nicholas Asbury) is living at Joan鈥檚 as her pet, and her best mate Leanne (Jayde Adams) has transformed a truck into a bar that鈥檚 become Bolton鈥檚 biggest hot-spot.
Just as Alma starts to settle back into her Bolton life, Joan (Lorraine Ashbourne) has some shocking news that鈥檚 going to change everything.
Alma鈥檚 Not Normal starts at 10pm on Monday 7 October on 麻豆约拍 Two and iPlayer.
Interview with Sophie Willan (Alma)
We left Alma at the end of last series with her dumping Anthony and feeling empowered to follow her dreams 鈥� what does this series bring for Alma?
This series Alma faces a new set of challenges that change Alma forever. There is a loss of innocence; a sort of coming of age and finding her own voice 鈥� both as a person and a creative.
How difficult was it to write the second series after the first or was it always scoped out?
Once I realised that the stories I needed to tell weren鈥檛 just about Alma or personal to me - they were political, philosophical and things we need to talk about 鈥� the story just flowed out of me.
Mental health is a theme that is reflected in this second series, especially in terms of the mental health services in the UK 鈥� it鈥檚 clearly very important to you 鈥� can you tell us more about that and how you decided to tackle it in this series?
I continued to tackle it with humour and heart 鈥� but with more candid rage. I wanted to take the state to task and show how people鈥檚 lives have genuinely been affected for the worst by the detrimental cuts to social care services. I wanted to show how this cycle along with the housing crisis has criminalised and institutionalised vulnerable people and particularly, I wanted to show the impact on vulnerable women.
The power in your writing - the way we laugh and cry with Alma is incredible, you鈥檙e so good at communicating her desperation and heartbreak - where does that inspiration come from?
Humour is about rage and optimism, in my opinion and the emotion of the story comes from a place of love and sadness. I believe if you鈥檙e able to tap into all these emotions and authentically tell the story with generosity and pragmatism, that鈥檚 what will come out. Also, Northerners have a natural gallows humour so it鈥檚 sort of innate.
Why do you think that scripted comedy can be so powerful when exploring darker themes?
In my view, comedy is both a rebellious act and a survival mechanism. I don't really see comedy and drama as separate鈥攖hey naturally co-exist. If the story is authentic and the characters feel real, the comedy and drama will seamlessly intertwine and move an audience in equal measure.
Female relationships are central to the series and it鈥檚 wonderful to see a female ensemble piece on our screens. Tell us a bit about that - what鈥檚 it like on set, how do you all work well together?
I am so lucky to work with three wonderful women who are all super talented and a joy to be around. With Shiv (Siobhan Finneran) and Lorraine, I鈥檝e learnt so much from them, whilst also feeling so supported and respected as a writer. I鈥檝e fallen in love with them both and adore being on set with them. We have a lot of laughs but they always give their whole selves to the project and the character which I鈥檓 very grateful for.
Jayde and I both came up together through stand-up and then Alma was both of our first big things really. So it has been wonderful to share that journey.
There are some very emotional scenes in this series, how did you all prepare for that?
A coffee, a pastie and a fag with Shiv before and after the scene.
Grandma Joan has become an icon 鈥� her attitude is infectious 鈥搕ell us how her character develops and what you love about writing for her.
Joan鈥檚 a joy to write because of her brilliant one liners, her original/not-normal take on day-to-day things (like Feng Suey or eating eggs) and her unruly, unfiltered approach to life. She is very much like my own grandma, Denise who passed away in 2021 鈥� and celebrating Denise through Joan is a joy and a privilege not many people get to do once they鈥檝e lost someone.
As the series progresses, we get to explore more of Joan's childlike vulnerability and petulance, which is something we haven鈥檛 seen much of before. This vulnerability is almost clown-like and in my opinion makes her even more loveable. We also get to meet her family, which explains a lot - it certainly shows us where and how she developed that acerbic wit!
Alma鈥檚 best friend, Leanne, has an unwavering support of her - how does that develop in this series?
What鈥檚 brilliant about Leanne and Alma is that, despite all the chaos in Alma鈥檚 life, Leanne remains her constant - the only true, unwavering presence she can rely on. In series 2, we see Leanne take on new challenges and start to carve out her own path, but that doesn鈥檛 shake the core of their bond. Leanne is the ideal best friend - always loyal, supportive, and unafraid to speak her mind. The joy and comedy in their relationship is a celebration of female empowerment and friendship. Everything audiences loved about their dynamic in series 1 only deepens in series 2.
Alma is an incredible character 鈥� a mix of reckless and fabulous but vulnerable and powerful too 鈥� which side of her do you like writing/playing most?
Alma is such a joy to write and play because she鈥檚 so multifaceted; reckless, fabulous, vulnerable, passionate, sometimes all at once! The combination of fearlessness and fragility make her complex, and playing with that balance is what makes her exciting to play.
As we know, music and costume is an integral part of what makes the series so special 鈥� how did you develop this for series two?
From the very beginning of crafting the show, I had a clear vision for the music and costume because they play such a huge part in her world. The soundtrack was all about rebellious women鈥擱iot Grrrl, punk, soul, divas, voices that reflect Alma鈥檚 own boldness and vulnerability. That spirit of defiance and passion is woven through every scene.
Costume was just as important and was actually written into the script on some occasions; a leopard print onesie for Joan, a silver bomber jacket for Lin, and of course, Alma鈥檚 iconic pink fluffy coat. I had a mood board from the start, mapping out how I wanted the font, colours, and the overall feel of the series to look.
Then, I got to collaborate with some incredibly talented people 鈥� particularly Andrew Chaplin the director who brought a brilliant creative vision and sophistication to the show. And Daniella Pearman, our costume designer, who took that vision and infused it with so much thought and imagination, adding intricate details that really brought each character to life.
It鈥檚 great working with people you have such an established connection and creative shorthand with. We鈥檝e worked long enough now that we all share a collective vision for the show. That collaboration has only strengthened the series, making it feel even more cohesive and grounded in this world we鈥檝e built together.
The physical comedy is always present in your writing too 鈥� how do you manage that in the writing process? Does that develop at read-through stages or while you鈥檙e on set? How does your vision for the aesthetics and how things look and sound evolve while you鈥檙e on set.
I don鈥檛 really separate physical comedy from dialogue humour. For me, it鈥檚 all about character - what they do, what they say - and I can always see that in my head as I鈥檓 writing. If it makes me laugh in the room, it goes straight into the first draft of the script! The physical comedy naturally flows from the characters and their personalities, so by the time we get to the read-through or on set, it鈥檚 already embedded in the script.
That said, things do evolve once we鈥檙e on set. The actors bring their own energy to it, and there鈥檚 often something spontaneous that adds another layer of humour. The aesthetics and how things look and sound definitely develop as we go. I have a clear vision in my head when writing, but I鈥檓 always open to seeing how it translates visually and adjusting it based on what鈥檚 working in the moment. Collaboration with the actors, directors, and the crew often enhances those physical moments, and that鈥檚 what brings the comedy to life in such an authentic way.
We talk about this a lot but being the creator, writer, executive producer, central lead 鈥� is an enormous amount of roles to play on the show. Does that make the whole process easier or more difficult?
Being the showrunner on a production comes with both its benefits and challenges. On one hand, it鈥檚 wonderful to have the autonomy to oversee the whole process and really bring a clear vision to life. I can ensure that everything from the first script to the final cut in the edit aligns feels right which is a huge privilege. But it鈥檚 also a lot of responsibility, and you have to manage it carefully.
What鈥檚 crucial is working collaboratively with the team. I鈥檓 very lucky that the director is not only a joy to work with but we have a great shorthand and a shared vision, which makes the process much smoother. It鈥檚 been important for me and Chappers (Andrew Chaplin, Director) to have fun working together and brainstorming and that鈥檚 come about naturally through a mutual respect of each other鈥檚 work.
What would you like viewers to take away from this series?
This series is much more about Alma finding her voice and confronting the injustices around her, so there鈥檚 definitely more rage in it. It鈥檚 bittersweet, because while Alma鈥檚 resilience and humour are still there, we don鈥檛 shy away from the reality that there鈥檚 no happy ending within a broken system.
I hope viewers come away with a deeper understanding of the challenges people face when institutions don鈥檛 support them, but also with an appreciation for Alma鈥檚 fight. She鈥檚 not giving up, and while she might not get everything she deserves, she鈥檚 still carving out space for herself and finding her own strength. That mix of frustration and hope is really at the heart of this series.鈥�
Interview with Siobhan Finneran (Lin)
What鈥檚 your character鈥檚 relationship like with her mother Joan and daughter Alma?
Lin has a very dysfunctional relationship with Alma and Joan but the love is there throughout.
How would you describe Lin?
Lin is childlike emotionally and very fragile- her lack of self-editing is breath-takingly painful to watch at times but of course equally funny and shocking as she can be so blunt and honest - very often saying what everyone is thinking! I feel honoured to be playing her and cherish the scenes.
What was it like getting the new series script?
Getting the new scripts for Alma 2 was an absolute treat - Sophie is such a gloriously gifted writer and performer. There is a huge amount of heart and love in her scripts as well as them being bloody hilarious and that鈥檚 why I think the audience love it - she is not afraid to put the spotlight on issues too but you don鈥檛 feel you are being preached at . There鈥檚 no better way to learn than whilst you鈥檙e engaged and enjoying yourself and at times questioning whether you should be laughing at some of the situations the characters find themselves in?
I find Alma鈥檚 defence of Lin totally heartbreaking as she seems to be the only person who can see that her Mum, were it not for her addiction and mental health problems could be travelling a different path - but the system once you are in it doesn鈥檛 allow for that and you are knocked back at every turn - it judges the most vulnerable and there鈥檚 little or no support for them and the people who are doing their best to care for them in what ever capacity that is , be it family members or friends or employees of the care system
Finally how would you best describe Alma's Not Normal?
I would describe Alma鈥檚 Not Normal as a big pasty full of love so get stuck in!!!
Interview with Lorraine Ashbourne (Joan)
Grandma Joan 鈥� the leopard skin loving, whirlwind of energy is an icon to many,. Sophie鈥檚 written an incredible array of strong northern women as part of Alma鈥檚 world, did you channel anyone in particular to become Joan?
Sophie has written some brilliantly strong female characters, Joan is a joy to play. There are so many brilliant Northern women to be inspired by, there is a natural rhythm to how they speak, that really helps land comedy.
Joan has a confidence and a 鈥榗ouldn鈥檛 care less鈥� attitude to what people think of her, was that fun to play?
It鈥檚 fantastic to play someone who鈥檚 really strong and confident, but who鈥檚 clearly had a tough upbringing and who underneath it all is like a vulnerable child. She gets more and more outspoken and petulant as the series goes on, but we learn why she鈥檚 like she is, when we get to meet more of her family and see how it鈥檚 shaped her rebellious streak.
Joan has become quite an iconic character, when you first read the script, did you get that impression?
I am so proud to work on Alma鈥檚 Not Normal, it鈥檚 a brilliant series I know I鈥檓 a bit biased but to talk about some of the issues in the show the way she does is unbelievable. Its so funny and moving, its amazing. We鈥檝e all got bloody brilliant characters and the writing speaks for itself. Joan is incredible, it鈥檚 a great part and I think she should run the country! We should all be a bit more Joan!
Interview with Jayde Adams (Leanne)
Where do we find Leanne at the start of the new series?
At the start of the new series, Leanne is still trying to get her life together but unlike Alma, she always knows what is next. She鈥檚 resilient and stubbornly optimistic. She鈥檚 a hustler, she鈥檚 got to make the best out of what she鈥檚 got, and she鈥檚 finally out of the tabard and towards the end of the series, Leanne has her very own transformation. Which personally, was a joy for me. Let鈥檚 just say, that Leanne and I share more in common than our effortless good looks.
How happy is she to have Alma back?
Leanne is thrilled to have Alma back! Alma is like family to her, their bond goes beyond friendship鈥攊t鈥檚 survival. They鈥檝e been through so much together, and there鈥檚 this unspoken understanding between them. Leanne鈥檚 life without Alma would be pretty stale as she brings joy and sparkle into Leanne鈥檚 9-5. As always with Alma, there鈥檚 chaos around but this gives Leanne a sense of stability, as she always knows where she is with someone like Alma. Alma is chaotic, but she鈥檚 authentic.
Leanne is loosely inspired by a real person who is Northern 鈥� Sophie really wanted you to bring your Bristolian accent to the part - what did you think being Bristolian brought to the role?
Being Bristolian gives Leanne a different kind of energy. I鈥檝e played Northerners a few times now, and am good with accents in general but the Bristol accent has an authoritative warmth, which works perfectly for Leanne鈥檚 quick wit and tough, no-nonsense approach. Sophie describes Alma as otherworldly, and in a way, it makes sense that Alma would be drawn to Leanne, who feels like a bit of a fish out of water herself, even in Bolton. It creates this nice dynamic where Leanne stands out in the crowd, but she鈥檚 still a natural fit within Alma鈥檚 world. And let鈥檚 be real, people in the UK do move cities 鈥� I鈥檝e lived in Wales, Essex and London. Sophie actually spent a few years in Bristol herself! We even discovered we鈥檇 been in the same production in Bristol as kids, which was such a funny coincidence. So for me, bringing my Bristolian accent to the role didn鈥檛 feel unusual -it was personal but also made sense for the character鈥檚 uniqueness.
What is it like being part of the cast of Alma?
It鈥檚 honestly been such a joy to be part of this project. The cast feels like family, and there鈥檚 so much love on set -something I鈥檓 sure translates on screen. It鈥檚 rare to find a production where everyone is not only fully committed but also able to maintain such a sense of fun, even when tackling difficult or emotional material. That energy is down to Sophie Willan, our incredible executive producer, and the smart decision by the production company to give her full creative control. More creatives need to be empowered with exec producer roles. I had a production credit on a series I shot last year, and it made a world of difference in ensuring the show鈥檚 vision came through in the right way.
What is your favourite thing about playing Leanne?
Leanne doesn鈥檛 try to fit into anyone鈥檚 expectations, and that鈥檚 really refreshing. She鈥檚 unapologetically herself, which makes her both relatable and empowering. Leanne is played by me, so she鈥檚 fat and Sophie also took the time to incorporate my personal experiences as a fat person into Leanne鈥檚 character, asking me how I think someone in my position might react to certain situations or relationships and how I feel fat people are often portrayed in roles. It was such an incredible thing to be asked by the writer of a show -to have my experience genuinely heard. Many writers wouldn鈥檛 ask.
What was it like getting the new series script?
It was exciting! Sophie鈥檚 writing is always so sharp and layered. You never know where the story is going to go next, but it always feels true to the characters. There were moments in the script that made me laugh out loud, and others that really hit hard emotionally. I couldn鈥檛 wait to dive back into the show.
What is the most challenging thing about playing Leanne?
Honestly, the Bolton weather was probably the biggest challenge鈥攊t鈥檚 not exactly tropical! And let鈥檚 just say, Leanne鈥檚 outfits don鈥檛 exactly leave much room for layering up or hiding heaters. But I powered through with lots of tea, and the production team was amazing at making sure I could take a break to warm up when needed. You鈥檒l see soon enough why I was freezing most of the time鈥攊t鈥檚 definitely tied to where we find Leanne in series 2 and some of her more... memorable fashion choices!
Do you have a favourite moment over the past two series (that you can share without spoiling anything for series two viewers!)
There鈥檚 a scene from the first series where Leanne and Alma are eating sushi, just having a silly, heartfelt chat. We have another one in series 2 on a step outside of Leanne鈥檚 work. It鈥檚 one of those moments where you really feel the depth of their friendship, and it鈥檚 funny but also really touching. That鈥檚 the magic of the show -it鈥檚 hilarious, but there鈥檚 always this undercurrent of real emotion.
What is the atmosphere like on set?
The atmosphere on set is truly amazing. It鈥檚 a group of working-class artists all coming together, which honestly makes a huge difference. That鈥檚 one of the best things about this specific production. There's always a lot of laughter, but when it comes down to it, everyone is incredibly professional, kind and dedicated to making the show the best it can be. My day started with Lesley Brennan giving me a mullet and Leanne鈥檚 signature season 2 tan -she's going through a bit of a transformation, let鈥檚 just say. On a show like Alma鈥檚 Not Normal, it鈥檚 crucial that we all support each other, and there's a real sense of camaraderie. It feels like a safe environment where we can take risks and experiment, which is a true gift as an actor.
Why do you think the show appeals so much to audiences? What makes it so special?
I think it鈥檚 the raw honesty that really connects with people. Alma鈥檚 Not Normal doesn鈥檛 shy away from tough subjects, but it approaches them with so much humour and heart. The characters are real, flawed, and deeply relatable, no matter where you鈥檙e from. People see themselves in Alma, Leanne, and the rest of the cast because the struggles and emotions are universal.
Finally, how would you best describe Alma's Not Normal?
It鈥檚 a hilarious, heartbreaking, and brutally honest look at life. It鈥檚 about resilience, friendship, and finding humour in the darkest moments. At its core, it鈥檚 a show about surviving whatever life throws at you, with a laugh and a lot of love.
Interview with Nicholas Asbury (Jim)
Where do we find Jim at the start of the new series?
He鈥檚 living with Grandma Joan, in comfort and warmth. But he鈥檚 not happy鈥�
What reaction did you have to the first series?
Overwhelming and huge positivity. One of the best responses I got personally was when someone who'd worked in psychiatric hospitals wrote and said how we鈥檇 got Jim right. It proved to me that we were doing something important as well as funny.
What was it like getting the new series script?
Slightly buttock clenching because the first time I read it was at the read-through.. We had no idea what was going to happen, so we were feeling it the same as all the others listening in the room. It was a very special moment.
Do you have a favourite moment over the past two series (that you can share without spoiling anything for series two viewers!)
There really are so many. The scene at the end of the first episode in series 1, where the four of us are sat on the bench in Queen鈥檚 Park in Bolton eating pasties. It was SO cold when we filmed it in February, but the warmth of those pasties and the love between us all, cast and crew alike (we鈥檇 only known each other for a matter of days), kept us going.
There鈥檚 also scene in the second series where all the family are raucously gathered together in a kitchen and, to me, it was one of THOSE moments. It was very, very special and I have no idea what it鈥檒l look like on screen - poor Gill Isles (the Producer) and Andrew Chaplin (the Director) were wide eyed trying to film it, bless them.
And, I have to say it, there鈥檚 a scene in a solicitor鈥檚 office towards the end of the second series, where I haven鈥檛 laughed so hard in years. Again, who knows how that will come across? They鈥檝e probably cut me out because I was just giggling all the time.
What is the atmosphere like on set?
It鈥檚 just a joy. Every single minute. All the cast and crew talk, laugh and cry together the whole time. Andrew Chaplin is, frankly, a genius, harnessing it all and getting it in the can. And who wouldn鈥檛 want to work with Siobhan and Lorraine (who, let鈥檚 be honest, are national treasures), and Sophie (who will become one) so closely? I just sit there with a spam sandwich and marvel. I鈥檓 very, very lucky.
Why do you think the show appeals so much to audiences? What makes it so special?
It鈥檚 a very funny, and tough, series to watch. Because of that, people loved it. With one funny line Sophie can say more than a gritty documentary. She is writing with a startling and tender honesty from her own personal experience, so there is such warmth amongst the chill. We鈥檙e laughing and crying WITH the Nuttalls, not at them.
Finally how would you best describe Alma's Not Normal?
Funny. Angry. Honest.