First look images released of Funny Woman series 2

Sky have released a first look at the second series of Funny Woman, which filmed in the Liverpool City Region.

The Sky Original comedy series filmed across Wirral and Liverpool last year, facilitated by Liverpool Film Office, and will be heading to screens on Sky Max and streaming service NOW on Friday 6 September.

The four-part series picks up from the success of Gemma Arterton (The King’s Man, Summerland) as the nation’s favourite comic actress, Sophie Straw in the backdrop of the swinging 60s as she juggles her career and her romance with Arsher Ali (Informer, The Fear Index) as Dennis Mahindra.

The series explores the themes of love, gender equality, LGBTQ rights, representation in comedy, all against the backdrop and cultural explosion of the swinging 1960s.

The second run welcomes Steve Zissis (The Changeling, Togetherness), Marcus Rutherford (The Wheel of Time, Obey), Tim Key (The Witchfinder, This Time with Alan Partridge), Gemma Whelan (Game of Thrones, The Tower), Roisin Conaty (GameFace, Man Down), Rory Keenan (The Regime, Somewhere Boy), Lydia Wilson (Requiem, About Time), Lydia Leonard (Ten Percent, The Crown), Jack Docherty (Scot Squad, Absolutely), and Josie Lawrence (Father Brown, Midsomer Murders).

Returning cast includes David Threlfall (Shameless) as George Parker, Rosie Cavaliero (Code 404) as Aunt Marie Parker, Alexa Davies (White House Farm, COBRA) as Marjorie Harrison, Matthew Beard (Vienna Blood, Avenue 5) as Bill Gardiner, Leo Bill (Becoming Elizabeth) as Tony, Clare-Hope Ashitey (Top Boy) as Diane, Alistair Petrie (Sex Education) as Ted Sargeant, Olivia Williams (The Father, Dune Prophecy) as Gloria, Emily Bevan (The Full Monty, Temple) as Edith Mahindra, and Doon Mackichan (Good Omens, Two Doors Down) as Miss Sykes.

Funny Woman is produced by Potboiler Productions and Rebel Park Productions, in association with Sky Studios. Creative Director of Comedy Anil Gupta is Executive Producer for Sky Studios. The new series is executive produced by Nick Hornby, Morwenna Banks, Gemma Arterton, Andrea Calderwood, Gail Egan, Jessica Parker and Jessica Malik. Ross Williams is series producer. The series is written by multi-award-winning writer Morwenna Banks (Slow Horses), BAFTA and Emmy winning writers Kevin Cecil (Veep) and Andy Riley (Veep). BAFTA nominee Oliver Parker (The Great Escaper) directs.

Viewers can catch up on Funny Woman Series 1 on Sky Max and streaming service NOW, ahead of the new series dropping later this year. NBCUniversal Global Distribution handles international sales of the series on behalf of Sky Studios.

Photograph: Ben Blackall