Comedy fans can breathe a sigh of relief: Channel 4’s raucous We Are Lady Parts is returning for a second series and we don’t have too long to wait until we can dive back in.

The series follows the highs and lows of an all-female Muslim punk band – named Lady Parts – who hail from east London and has been lauded for “bringing punk rock to the forefront” in a way that showcases different Muslim women in a positive light. Writer and director Nida Manzoor (Doctor Who, Enterprice, Hounslow Diaries) partially based the comedy series on her own life as a Muslim woman, and now, the bold music comedy has been commissioned for a second series.

In the first series, we follow the band’s adventures through the eyes of Amina Hussain (played by Anjana Vasan) – a geeky microbiology PhD student on the lookout for love. Lady Parts’ fierce and enigmatic frontwoman Saira (Sarah Kameela Impey) sees something in Amina and uses “her desperation to find a husband as leverage, offering to set her up with potential matches if she agreed to join the band,” according to the synopsis. 

“However, the other members – taxi-driving drummer Ayesha, cartoon-drawing bassist and backing vocalist Bisma and the band’s wheeler-dealer band manager Momtaz – are not convinced she is right for their band.”

Soon, Amina is recruited to be the band’s unlikely lead guitarist but also gets swept up in the band’s “joyful, anarchic energy and punk spirit”. The synopsis continues: “But she’s caught between two different worlds – her more strait-laced uni friends and the band, who urge her to find her voice. Series one ended with the band reuniting on stage, following an exposing interview, for a kick-ass performance. 

“With the support of her fellow band members, Amina manages to overcome her vomit-inducing stage fright and takes her place on centre stage, where she belongs – much to the delight of their newly found adoring fans.”

Since its premiere, We Are Lady Parts has received major critical acclaim. The series won the prestigious 2021 Edinburgh TV Award for best comedy series and Nida Manzoor was recently announced as the recipient of the illustrious 2021 Rose d’Or emerging talent award, while the show also received a nomination for the Rose d’Or comedy drama and sitcom award. 

And series two, which launches on 30 May on Channel 4, promises to be just as radically, brilliantly fun as a rival band threatens their success. And as well as the return of Amina, Saira, Ayesha, Bisma and Momtaz, it will also feature two big-hitting cameos:  Malala Yousafzai, education activist and co-founder of the Malala fund, and comedy legend Meera Syal (The Kumars at No. 42, Goodness Gracious Me).

Speaking about the upcoming series, Manzoor says: “Making series one of We Are Lady Parts was immense for me. It was a trial by fire, but I found my voice, my style and my confidence in creating this show. In series two, we explore the interior lives of each of the women in more depth. Each of them facing new, existential challenges with all the silliness, pratfalls, and banter of series one. 

The music is bigger too - more wild original tunes (penned by me and my siblings) and dare I say it, even better covers. The series overall asks the question of success. What is success? For a punk band - is fame, stadium shows, and major record deals the answer? I wanted to explore the uncomfortable tension between art and commerce and ask how much compromise is too much. I’m really proud of what we achieved and can’t wait to share it with old fans and new.”

The fans can’t wait either! 

Watch We Are Lady Parts on Channel 4 on 30 May 

Images: Channel 4