Mawaan Rizwan, the creator and star of the BBC sitcom Juice, has confirmed that the show will not return for a third season. The surreal comedy, which aired its second season last year, was based on Rizwan's 2018 Edinburgh Fringe performance.
Closing the Chapter
Speaking to Radio Times, Rizwan reflected on the experience: "Five years of my life doing two series, it's such a privilege being at the epicentre and having creative control of a project like that, but it's a lot of pressure and a really intense process." Drawing an analogy from Of Mice and Men, he added: "You can love the rabbit too much and squeeze it to death."
He emphasized the importance of moving on: "It will always be my first love and there isn't anyone involved with that show that I don't adore, but I think it's healthy to close chapters."
About the Show
Juice premiered in 2023 on BBC Three and followed Jamma, a young gay man working at a marketing company, as he navigated family dynamics and his relationship with his boyfriend Guy, played by Russell Tovey. Rizwan's real-life mother and brother appeared on screen as his character's family, with his mother Farida portrayed as a former movie star managing a community centre, often outshining Jamma alongside his younger brother Isaac.
The series was praised for its visual comedy and heartfelt moments. One fan called it a "true comedy classic," while another wrote: "Finally, we have a new British sitcom worth talking about. Juice provided contemporary romantic humour, laugh-out-loud visual gags and hilarious one-liners from the off." Another viewer described it as "the best sitcom in ages" and compared it favourably to The IT Crowd.
Personal Inspiration
Rizwan previously told Metro that while the series was fictional, it drew from personal experiences. "I think all art is personal. I write with feeling, I write with stuff that I've been through," he said, noting that his mother encouraged him to be more vulnerable in his performance.
He described the show as "a visual feast," explaining: "My character… when his emotions peak, the world around him starts changing literally. I wanted to make a character where the physical world around him is like a physical manifestation of his emotions." The production involved building sets and creating a "giant playground," which he hopes comes across on screen.
Juice is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
