Gemma Arterton films Funny Girl in Liverpool
A three-month shoot begins in Liverpool today, 20 September, on new Sky comedy Funny Girl, starring Gemma Arterton, adapted from the 2014 novel by Nick Hornby.
Arterton plays Barbara Parker, a young woman from Blackpool who finds her comic voice in the male-dominated world of the 1960s sitcom.
Parker’s journey from being a Blackpool beauty queen to comedy superstar and nation’s sweetheart is set against the cultural explosion of the 1960s.
Clare-Hope Ashitey, Arsher Ali and Alexa Davies also star. Oliver Parker directs from scripts by Morwenna Banks. The comedy drama is produced by Potboiler and Rebel Park Productions in association with Sky Studios.
The series is executive produced by Hornby, Arterton, Banks, Andrea Calderwood, Gail Egan, Jessica Parker and Jessica Malik.
Arterton said at the time the commission was confirmed: “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.”
Photo by Dave J Hogan - Image courtesy gettyimages.com.
Also on The Knowledge
UKTV orders Welsh-language drama
UKTV has greenlit a bilingual drama called Mudtown (Ar y Ffin), currently filming in both English and Welsh.
Pierce Brosnan, Amir El-Masry to star in AGC’s 'Giant’
Pierce Brosnan and Amir El-Masry will star in AGC’s Naseem Hamed boxing drama Giant, which starts shooting later this month in the UK after the producers relocated from Malta to benefit from the country’s recently announced Independent Film Tax Credit.
Bergerac set to return courtesy of UKTV
Iconic, Jersey-set crime drama Bergerac is set for a revival, courtesy of UKTV Play and BlackLight TV.
Mark Gatiss writing and starring in period crime drama
Mark Gatiss has written and will star in Bookish, a new period crime drama for Alibi.
Netflix orders Agatha Christie drama from The Crown producer
Netflix has commissioned a new adaptation of Agatha Christie’s The Seven Dials Mystery from a former exec producer of The Crown.
Jason Statham readies to film thriller in UK
Jason Statham is readying to star in a new thriller that begins filming in the UK next week (w/c 8 April), directed by David Ayer.