Funny Woman


Funny Woman is a British comedy drama television series directed by Oliver Parker and adapted for the screen by Morwenna Banks from the best-selling novel Funny Girl by Nick Hornby. It stars Gemma Arterton in the lead role and premiered on 9 February 2023 on Sky Max. In August 2023, it was renewed for a second series, which premiered on 6 September 2024.

Premise

The series follows Barbara Parker, a Blackpool beauty queen who becomes a comedy star in the male-dominated sitcom industry in 1960s London.

Cast and characters

The show includes fictionalised portrayals of personalities from the period, including Frankie Howerd, Eleanor Bron, Val Doonican, Spike Milligan and John Fortune.

Episodes

Series 1 (2023)

Series 2 (2024)

Broadcast

The first series premiered on 9 February 2023 on Sky Max, with all six episodes also available on Now. In August 2023, it was renewed for a second series which premiered on 6 September 2024.

Reception

Seventy-three percent of critics reviews for Funny Woman are positive on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. It received mixed reviews in the press on the grounds that the title caused some to believe it was intended as a comedy rather than a drama about a comedy actress. This led to reviews of a "mediocre" and "uneven" series. Meanwhile, Funny Woman received three-, four- and five-star reviews from other reviewers, including The Guardian, who considered Arterton's performance "absolutely captivating", and The Independent, who felt "this show feels like a warm hug" with a "plucky, bold heroine". The Upcoming praised Arterton's "flirtatious, witty and charismatic" performance and considered Funny Woman "fast, fluid and incredibly clever".