Bolton-born Sophie Willan took the world (or town) by storm with the semi-autobiographical Alma’s Not Normal which first aired in 2020, and now Alma’s back in town and desperate for things to be different. Willan’s northern lass is admirably optimistic after struggling to get into the limelight in the first series, and there are plenty of laughs, tears, and of course, ‘woo’s to be had with Alma’s Not Normal series two airing from last night (Monday 7 October).
Set and filmed in Bolton, series two will see Alma bag herself a talent agent, who turns out to be a bit of a blagger. She buys herself some new wheels, that she can’t afford, and she lands herself an acting role that is completely demoralising. It’s safe to say, things are not panning out for Alma.
Meanwhile, mum Lin (Siobhan Finneran) is back in hospital and has discovered a penchant for witchcraft – of course. Jim (Nicholas Asbury) is living at Joan’s as her pet, and her best mate Leanne (Jayde Adams) has transformed a truck into a bar that’s become Bolton’s biggest hot spot. Just as Alma starts to settle back into her Bolton life, grandma Joan (Lorraine Ashbourne) has some shocking news that’s going to change everything.
Alma’s Not Normal has real heart, and the fact that Sophie Willan and Jayde Adams are good friends in real life makes their onscreen performances so authentic. This paired with incredible moments from iconic actresses Siobhan Finneran and Lorraine Ashbourne, and the inclusion of some social and political commentary that really affects normal people, comes together to create something truly unique.
If the first series is anything to go by, series two of Alma’s Not Normal is set to be hilarious, heartwarming, and unapologetically Northern – what could be better? In a preview screening attended by the cast, Sophie Willan said: “Alma is such a joy to write and play because she’s so multifaceted; reckless, fabulous, vulnerable, passionate, sometimes all at once!”
Where was Alma’s Not Normal filmed?
As mentioned, Alma’s Not Normal is filmed and set in Bolton, so it’s only right we give you a run down of some of the filming locations you might recognise, in both the first and recently-released second series.
Leanne’s Bar – Steakout site, Deane Road
Without giving away too much, it was only a matter of time before Alma’s best friend Leanne struck out on her own, and by series two she’s started her own bar. The bar in the back of a lorry is parked up on the Steakout site at the side of Deane Road, on the left as you enter the town centre from the Hunger Hill direction. Usually, you’ll see half a plane which is home to a restaurant, Steakout, which is potentially more jarring than Leanne’s fictional bar.
Olympus chippy
If you’ve ever been to Bolton town centre, chances are you’ll have noticed Olympus on the corner of Great Moor Street, between the end of the high street and Bolton train station. In Alma’s Not Normal, Olympus still operates as a chippy, but doubles up as Alma’s new agent’s office – in a dingy back room where he gets fed scraps. We spend a fair amount of time here in series two, so it might be worth a visit.
Bike shop – Green Machine, Horwich
Heading out of the town centre to Horwich, home of Bolton Wanderers and Vernon Kay, Alma heads to a bike shop for much-needed repairs to her beloved bike. She comes out with unexpected results, but the shop plays a pretty major part right at the beginning of series two.
Manchester City Centre
When Alma tries her hand at sex work in the first series, she takes herself to the ‘big city’, AKA Manchester. There are plenty of establishing shots around the city with Alma walking through in her characteristic bright pink outfit, and she can be seen entering on the ground floor of the iconic Beetham Tower. The interior shots, however, show Beetham Tower in the distance of the skyline, and the tower they are in seems to be at the other end of Deansgate, closer to Manchester Cathedral. There are also plenty of other short shots that you’ll recognise, so keep your eyes peeled.
Bolton Town Centre
Of course, there are also plenty of general shots in Bolton town centre, including spots like Le Mans Crescent, used to film the likes of Peaky Blinders and It’s A Sin, Bolton Town Hall and Victoria Square, and the roads and factory buildings around the perimeter. So many establishing shots of the town really ground Alma’s Not Normal in Bolton, and remind the viewer of the working class, northern background Alma comes from, which is the basis for so much of the plot.
Alma’s Not Normal series two starts at 10pm on Monday 7 October on BBC Two and iPlayer. You can watch the first series on iPlayer here.