Alma's Not Normal, a sitcom hailed as the 'best comedy since Only Fools and Horses', is now available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer. The series, which premiered on BBC Two in April 2020, stars comedian Sophie Willan as the titular character Alma Nuthall, a working-class aspiring actress in her thirties from Bolton, Greater Manchester, reeling from a break-up while working as an escort.
Willan also wrote and created the show, drawing on her personal experiences as a care leaver. The character Alma spent time in care and left school with no qualifications. The two-series sitcom explores themes such as addiction, loss, and the inadequacy of public services across its 12 episodes.
The critically acclaimed series has won four BAFTAs, including two for Scripted Comedy and two for Female Performance in a Comedy Programme. It boasts a star-studded cast including comedian Jayde Adams as Alma's best friend Leanne, and Grantchester actress Lorraine Ashbourne as her grandmother Joan, who raised Alma when her mother Lin (Siobhan Finneran) was unavailable. Lin's character deals with heroin addiction and mental health issues.
After a successful pilot episode in 2020, the first full series premiered in September 2021. Fans have taken to social media to praise the show, with one calling it 'one of my favourites - so well written and acted beautifully', while another said: 'Best comedy since Only Fools. It's hilarious if in need of a good laugh.' A third viewer added: 'I sobbed and laughed at the same time... Nothing has ever done that to me before, brilliant.'
