Funny Woman release date and trailer for new Gemma Arterton TV show

Gemma Arterton leads a TV adaptation of Nick Hornby novel Funny Girl for Sky.

The new comedy series, Funny Woman, is about a young woman from Blackpool finding her comic voice in the male dominated world of the 1960s sitcom.

Bold, stylish, and courageous, Gemma Arterton stars as Barbara Parker – the force of nature who takes London by storm. Her journey from Blackpool beauty queen to comedy superstar and nation’s sweetheart is set during the cultural explosion of the 1960s.

Joining Arterton on set in Liverpool are Rupert Everett (My Best Friend’s Wedding, Adult Material), as Barbara’s agent Brian Debehnam, David Threlfall (Shameless) as Barbara’s father, George, and Tom Bateman (Behind Her Eyes, Murder on the Orient Express) to star as dangerously charming actor Clive.

Also joining the cast will be Emily Bevans (Temple, Grantchester, Soulmates), Leo Bill (Becoming Elizabeth, Rare Beasts) and Matthew Beard (Vienna Blood, Avenue 5), alongside Clare-Hope Ashitey (Riviera, Top Boy), Arsher Ali (Informer, The Fear Index) and Alexa Davies (White House Farm, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!).

The Sky Original comedy drama will be available on Sky Max and streaming service NOW from 9 February 2023.

Watch a first trailer below…

A full teaser for the series shares: “It’s 1964 and girls are expected to be flirty, fabulous and fertile – they are not expected to be funny – but Barbara Parker is different. Based on Nick Hornby’s bestselling 2016 novel Funny Girl, this comic drama follows Barbara, a young woman working in a Blackpool rock factory, who sets off for London without a plan but with a dream.

“She embarks on a mission to reinvent herself and find her voice in the male-dominated world of the 1960s sitcom. However the road to stardom is paved with banana skins and she has many a pratfall before she achieves her goal.”

Gemma Arterton said: “It’s a heart-warming story of an ambitious woman with a dream of making people laugh – it’s going to be something special. It’s an honour to be working with such an incredible team and be reunited with my first ever director, Oliver Parker.”

Director of Comedy for Sky Studios, Jon Mountague, added: “With Morwenna Banks’ brilliant script, this was the perfect opportunity to bring a contemporary take on this inspiring story. Funny, smart and revealing – exactly what a Sky Original comedy should be, and we can’t wait”