In 2019, comedian Aisling Bea debuted This Way Up: a Channel 4 comedy-drama about a woman recovering from what she describes as a “teeny little nervous breakdown”. 

The series, written by and starring Bea, alongside Sharon Horgan, astutely observed issues surrounding mental health through raw, warm, relatable and very funny storytelling. 

And, as expected, it was a hit with fans, critics and the Stylist team. That explains why Bea went on to win the Bafta award for breakthrough talent last year. 

So we’re very excited that the series is coming back for a second season, and filming for it has just started.

Bea shared a behind-the-scenes photograph of herself with Horgan over the weekend, captioning it: “We’re baaaack. Couldn’t imagine a more stress-free, low-stakes time to start shooting a TV series guys.

“Making a comedy during an apocalyptic drama ain’t ideal, but lord do I have the best, kindest crew & of course my sister @sharonhorgan who looks great in every bloody angle.”

Bea initially confirmed the news about a second season on Twitter last November, writing: “The worst kept secret is out! (I said it months ago on a podcast, Sharon said it months ago on a podcast and Prince Phillip said it months ago in an interview). 

“Series two of #ThisWayUp is official and films in January. Very excited to get the band back together and start jamming, man.”

Explaining how she approached writing the script in lockdown, she added: “Writing the second series during a pandemic has been as easy as trying to keep an intricate butter sculpture intact on a hot frying pan, but I’m also really pulling off my new carpal tunnel syndrome, hunched back and squinty eye… it’s a LEWK.”

As reported in the press release, season two is set after the events of the series one finale, with things in flux for Aine (Bea) and her sister, Shona (Horgan).

It continues: “Aine’s starting to leave her time in rehab behind and live less cautiously, which may not be entirely wise. Will she and Richard (Tobias Menzies) make a cheeky go of it? Or continue to exist in the odd tension of the employer-employee dynamic? Or is emotional risk the ‘sexy bit?

It adds: “At the end of series one we saw Shona newly engaged after Vish’s (Aasif Mandvi) proposal, despite sharing a stolen kiss with business partner, Charlotte (Indira Varma). How will Charlotte and Shona manage running a new business together after that kiss? Will Shona be able to go through with marrying Vish? Planning a wedding? Can she tell him what happened? Is there anything more to tell?”

We can’t wait for the story continue. And, with filming already underway, we probably don’t have too long to wait.

Images: Channel 4