It's been a good week for comedian Sophie Willan. She has been shooting a full series following the successful pilot of sitcom Alma's Not Normal and today she has received a Bafta Award nomination for writing the pilot.

Created, written by, starring and Executive Produced by Sophie Willan, inaugural winner of the BBC’s Caroline Aherne Bursary Award in 2018, Alma’s Not Normal centres on Boltonian wild-child, Alma Nuthall and her family of eccentric, unruly women.

The pilot was watched by an audience of over a million viewers and was met by huge critical and audience acclaim. 

The six-part BBC Two series follows Alma as she tries to get her life back on track following a recent break-up. But with no job, no qualifications and a rebellious streak a mile wide, it’s not going to be easy. Meanwhile her mum, who is battling a heroin addiction, has been sectioned for arson and her vampish Grandma Joan wants nothing to do with it.

On being commissioned Willan said: "I’ve been overwhelmed by the fabulous response to the pilot and I'm so excited to be developing the series! I’ve already been using the Lockdown as a chance to get cracking so I'm just pleased to have the official go ahead! I can’t wait to get it made and share the world of Alma with everyone!" 

The pilot also featured Alma's erratic mum Lin (Siobhan Finneran) and grandmother Joan (Lorraine Ashbourne) and gobby butcher's assistant Leanne, played by Jayde Adams.

Also making an apoearance in the full series is poet Lemn Sissay, who tweeted on April 19: "Next week filming starts for the TV series #AlmasNotNormal. @sophiewillan (the star and writer) specifically employed care leavers to work on it behind the scenes. One of them is 1st AD (assistant director) . IMHO that is a big deal. Go Sophie!"

Sophie Willan's Alma's Not Normal will air on BBC Two later this year.