Alma’s Not Normal

In Bolton, an eccentric and resilient woman tries to rebuild her life after a breakup while dealing with her heroin-addicted mother and a family history rooted in the care system. A bold and bitingly funny sitcom that balances broad Northern humor with sharp, painful observations on social class and mental health. The series is a personal triumph for its creator and star, who draws on her own history to create a world that feels lived-in and authentic.

It avoids the traps of misery-memoir by maintaining a defiant, colorful energy and a cast of beautifully realized characters. A rare comedy that can move a viewer to tears and laughter within the same scene.

Production Details

UK / BBC Two - Expectation / 12x30 Minute Episodes / 2020-2024

Created by: Sophie Willan

Executive Producer: Nerys Evans, Sophie Willan

Producer: Gill Isles

Music: various

Main Cast

Sophie Willan as Alma

Jayde Adams as Leanne

Siobhan Finneran as Lin

Lorraine Ashbourne as Joan

James Baxter as Anthony

Nicholas Asbury as Jim

Kip Ford

TV Critic & Editorial Director

Kip Ford is Editorial Director at TV Reference. His encyclopedic knowledge spans every era of television history, with particular expertise in British and American drama, crime, and the golden age of network TV.

You Might Also Like

Fubar Age of Computer

Fort McMurray burnouts Terry and Dean hit Calgary’s high-speed internet in eight

Four in the Morning

Eight twentysomethings collide at 4 a.m. in a Toronto-shot dark comedy that refu

Meet the Richardsons

Mockumentary sitcom with real-life comics Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont bicke

Caution: May Contain Nuts

Edmonton troupe Blacklisted riffs on reserve life, city pretensions and pop cult