Trying (TV series)
Trying is a British comedy television series created by Andy Wolton. A co-production between Apple TV+ and BBC, the first series premiered on 1 May 2020 on Apple TV+. The second series premiered on 21 May 2021, with the third premiering on 22 July 2022. The fourth series, which continues Trying after a six year time-jump, premiered on 22 May 2024. In 2025, the first series was released on BBC iPlayer, as well as receiving a linear television broadcast on BBC One. In May 2025, Trying was renewed for a fifth series.
Premise
The series follows Nikki and Jason, a couple who really want to become parents but who struggle with conceiving a child. In order to have a baby they decide to adopt, only to face a whole list of new challenges and surprises that come with the adoption process. Additionally, Series 4 begins with a six year time-jump and focuses on Nikki and Jason as they deal with life as parents and all the trials and tribulations that come with it.Cast and characters
Main
- Esther Smith as Nikki Newman - Jason's wife and mother to Princess and Tyler, who works as a manager at Vistacar
- Rafe Spall as Jason Ross - Nikki's husband and father to Princess and Tyler, who used to teach English as a foreign language, now a taxi driver
- Sian Brooke as Karen - Nikki's sister, Scott's wife and Stevie's mother. A teacher, turned novelist.
- Darren Boyd as Scott - Karen's eccentric husband, father to Stevie.
- Ophelia Lovibond as Erica - Nikki's best friend and Freddy's ex-wife
- Oliver Chris as Freddy - Jason's best friend who owns a sporting goods company
- Imelda Staunton as Penny - Nikki and Jason's adoption officer
- Phil Davis as Vic Ross - Jason's father
- Paula Wilcox as Sandra Ross - Jason's mother
- Marian McLoughlin as Jilly Newman - Nikki's mother
- Roderick Smith as John Newman - Nikki's father
- Robyn Cara as Jennifer/Jen - Nikki's younger coworker and friend who is very quirky and learning to be an adult
- Fola Evans-Akingbola as Harper - Freddy's girlfriend after his divorce
- Scarlett Rayner as Princess - Nikki and Jason's daughter and Tyler's sister, age 16
- Cooper Turner as Tyler - Nikki and Jason's son and Princess's brother, age 12
Recurring
- Cush Jumbo as Jane - Jason's ex
- Susannah Wise as Denise - a friend at the adoption support group
- Bruce MacKinnon as Ben - a friend at the adoption support group
- Justine Mitchell as Lizzie - a friend at the adoption support group
- Diana Pozharskaya as Sofia - a student of Jason's
- Navin Chowdhry as Deven - a father who has a kid in Karen's school
- Eden Togwell as Princess - age 10
- Mickey McAnulty as Tyler - age 6
- Ciara Baxendale as Amy - Karen's co-worker
- James Doherty as Terry - Nikki's boss
- Clare Higgins as Bev Reid - Princess and Tyler's grandmother
- Karl Collins as Noah - Nikki and Jason's social worker
- Matilda Flower as Stevie - Karen and Scott's daughter
Production
Development
On 12 July 2019, it was reported that Apple Inc. and the BBC were working together for a new comedy series with the working title Alabama. Production on the series was already underway with the series set to be released sometime in 2020. Trying is the second co-production between Apple and the BBC after reboot Prehistoric Planet was announced two months prior. On 19 January 2020, Apple formally announced the series in a press release with the official title Trying. It was created by Andy Wolton.On 1 May 2020, Esther Smith confirmed in an interview with Metro that a second series of Trying had been commissioned by Apple. English singer-songwriter Maisie Peters wrote and performed the soundtrack for the series. With the announcement of a 14 May 2021 second series release date, Apple also announced their decision to renew Trying for a third series. Ahead of the series three finale, Apple announced that they had renewed it for a fourth series. The fourth series featured a time jump, with events moving forwards by six years. After the conclusion of series four, it was renewed for a fifth series.