Filming starts on Hold The Sunset Series 2
- Filming has started on the second series of BBC One sitcom Hold The Sunset
- Alison Steadman, John Cleese, Rosie Cavaliero and Jason Watkins return for more episodes
- The Royle Family star Sue Johnston has joined the cast, playing Edith's sister Joan
Filming has started on the second series of BBC One comedy Hold The Sunset.
It has also been revealed today that The Royle Family star Sue Johnston has joined the cast.
Created by Oscar-nominated writer Charles McKeown, Series 1 of the show - which was broadcast from February - became the most successful comedy launch on BBC One since 2014, with over 6 million viewers turning in.
The BBC tease: "The end of the first series saw Edith (Alison Steadman) and Phil (John Cleese) still planning to move abroad, but with Edith's 50 year old son Roger (Jason Watkins) showing no signs of leaving home or reuniting with his estranged wife Wendy (Rosie Cavaliero), is their dream of a sunset happy-ever-after slipping ever further away?"
Sue Johnston will play Edith's impossible sister Joan. Also joining the cast is Christian Brassington as hopeless estate agent Percy, and Shauna MacDonald as one-armed burglar Bob's irrepressible and individual daughter Georgie.
Sue Johnston says: "I'm thrilled to be working with such a great cast of actors. Some are new friends and some are old friends - it is a joy to be joining them all."
Alison Steadman comments: "I am delighted to be back working on Hold The Sunset, I had a great time working on the first series and I can't wait to see what's in store for Edith and Phil."
John Cleese adds: "I really enjoyed making the first series. It was great to be able to do so much sitting-down acting. I look forward to seeing our lovely cast again."
Shane Allen, Controller Comedy Commissioning at the BBC, says: "We'd like to see the sun to rise on another series of this hugely popular family sitcom which shimmers with legends of British comedy."
Chris Sussman, Head of Comedy at production company BBC Studios, concludes: "It's been a dream working with such a cast of comedy legends, and I'm thrilled that we're getting the chance to bring them back together again."
Hold The Sunset Series 2 will be shown on BBC One at a later date, yet to be specified.