Funny Woman

Period dramedy Funny Woman is back for a second four-part outing on Sky Max. Based on Nick Hornby's novel Funny Girl and developed by Morwenna Banks, it stars Gemma Arterton as Barbara (stage name Sophie Straw), a 1960s comedian yearning to be the British Lucille Ball. There's a lively sweetness to Arterton's performance, and to the ensemble cast (David Threlfall, Arsher Ali, Alexa Davies and more), that keeps you watching even as Sophie's ambitions feel underwhelming. The edgy sitcom she wants to do is effectively The Liver Birds.

As much as Funny Woman is about single life, love and societal prejudice, it's also about television history: a pastiche of old discussion shows is extremely funny. Funny Woman isn't as strong as The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, but it's not without charm.

Funny Woman Series 2 review

Rather than a technicolour nostalgia-fest, the series reminds us of a pervasive truth: some men, it seems, cannot handle a funny woman.

Funny Woman Series 2 review

Lopsided comedy drama can't decide if it's Ken Dodd or Ken Loach. Gemma Arterton has charisma to spare as a pioneering female comedian in 1960s London, but the show can't settle on a consistent tone.

Funny Woman Series 2 review

Gemma Arterton is tediously perfect.

Funny Woman Series 2 review

This second series is sweet and nostalgic - but a little more edge wouldn't go amiss.

'I didn't know romcoms were so fun!': the return of Gemma Arterton's utterly charming 60s drama

Being on set for Nick Hornby's Funny Woman is so entertaining that the cast struggle to keep a straight face while filming. We spend time behind the scenes of this love letter to swinging 60s London.