Bridget Christie's The Change to return for Series 2
- Filming on Series 2 of The Change starts later this year
- Writer and star Bridget Christie jokes: "What??? I've got a SECOND series?! What was the first one about?"
- The new episodes will continue on from Series 1, with Linda facing the repercussions of the lies she's told the forest community
Channel 4 has commissioned a second series of The Change, the comedy series in which Bridget Christie plays a woman going through the menopause who leaves her family behind to stay in a community in the The Forest Of Dean.
The comedy, which made its debut in June 2023, garnered a number of award nominations, and Christie is currently shortlisted for her performance as Linda in the Female Performance in a Comedy category for the forthcoming BAFTA TV Awards.
Filming on the new series starts later this year, with the plot described as follows: "Linda has got some explaining to do. Faced with the repercussions of the lies she's told the forest community, along with losing the Mother Tree, and the arrival of husband Steve who has come to bring her home, Linda's future in the forest looks uncertain. But she's already come a long way since being mother/wife/homemaker Linda Jane Jenkins of Swindon, and her journey is far from over. She may have only been Eel Queen for a day, but something's changed in Linda which means she's not done yet - in fact she's only just started. But little does she realise what a huge impact this decision will have on the town... and Steve."
As reported by BCG in November, Christie began writing the new episodes last year, despite the series yet having been officially recommissioned at that point. She said at the time "I've set loads of things up [to be continued]".
Talking about the confirmation of another run, Bridget Christie jokes: "What??? I've got a SECOND series?! What was the first one about?".
Morwenna Gordon, executive producer at production company Expectation, comments: "Bridget has created something very special in The Change, with Linda and her 'coming of age' story with a twist. From stacking the dishwasher and timing her chores, to taking off on a Triumph, climbing trees and being crowned an Eel Queen, the show puts too-often invisible, middle-aged women squarely in the spotlight - in motorbike leathers and a headdress - and for that we are eternally grateful! So, we are delighted to be bringing it back to Channel 4 for a second series to let Linda continue her journey."
Charlie Perkins, Head of Comedy at Channel 4, comments: "Of course soon after the Spring Equinox feels like the perfect time to celebrate the return of The Change to Channel 4. The critical and cultural response to Series 1 was special; celebrating a distinctive, artistic, and uniquely funny take on subject matter we hadn't seen reflected in comedy before. We're looking forward to being back with Bridget, Expectation and the eels in The Forest Of Dean."
The first series also starred Omid Djalili as Steve, Susan Lynch as Agnes, Monica Dolan as Carmel, Tanya Moodie as Joy, Jim Howick as The Verderer, Paul Whitehouse as Tony, Jerome Flynn as Pig Man, Liza Tarbuck as Siobhain and Sonny Charlton as Ryan. Casting for Series 2 will be announced in due course.