A comedy show written by and starring a Bolton comic has been commissioned for a full series after it was hailed by BBC chiefs as 'one of the freshest voices in years'.
The pilot of Alma's Not Normal was watched on BBC Two by more than one million people, when it aired earlier this month.
It was written by Bolton's very own Sophie Willan, who also stars as titular character Alma Nuthall.
In the pilot, which was filmed all around Bolton, Alma believes she is a star in the making and decides to take her career into her own hands, following a failed meeting at the job centre
Sophie was joined by other northern talent including Siobhan Finneran as her mum Lin - a heroin addict, who has been sectioned for arson, and Lorraine Ashbourne playing her nan Joan.
Also starring was Jayde Adams as Sophie’s best friend, Leanne, and James Baxter as Anthony, Alma’s cheating ex-boyfriend.
The series is set to be part of BBC Two's comedy-heavy Thursday night schedule, next year.
Controller for BBC Two, Patrick Holland said: “BBC Two has always been the home of the most exciting comic talents and the most brilliantly conceived worlds. Sophie Willan’s Alma’s Not Normal is one of the freshest voices in years and follows on from the successful piloting of shows like Motherland and The Other One.
"During these challenging times I am delighted to bring Thursday comedy nights back for the audience.”
On Twitter, Sophie excitedly wrote: "NEWS IS FINALLY HERE #AlmasNotNormal is GOING TO SERIES!!!!"
The full series is expected to air on BBC Two in 2021.
