Written by and starring Irish comedian Aisling Bea, Channel 4's six-part comedy drama follows Aine, a foreign language school worker who's recovering from a "teeny little nervous breakdown". Catastrophe's Sharon Horgan joins the cast as Aine's worried sister, Shona.

Advertisement

Here's everything you need to know about This Way Up...


Will there be a This Way Up season two?

RadioTimes.com has reached out to Channel 4 about whether or not there'll be a second season, and the channel confirmed that there was no news yet about a commission.

"Joy of joys if there was – but we don't know yet," Aisling Bea later told RadioTimes.com.


When is This Way Up on TV?

The series, produced by Sharon Horgan's production company Merman, premiered on Channel 4 on Thursday 8th August at 10pm.


What is This Way Up about?

Aine is an English-as-a-foreign language (TEFL) teacher who's trying to piece her life back together following a nervous breakdown. At her side is her sister, Shona, a finance whizz who worries about Aine — and whether she has room for her boyfriend in her flat since she bought a new coffee table...

The TEFL school where Aine works is also full of lost characters, each hoping to achieve happiness in the face of both social and psychological barriers.

Channel 4 describe the series (previously announced under the working title of Happy AF) as a "pin-sharp, poignant comedy which, with warmth and keen-edged wit, shows that the journey to happiness is harder for some than others."

"This show is my baby and I am extremely excited about it," Bea said. "Sharon and I have been trying to make a baby for a few years now and in the last while we've gotten some extra help in and now finally I am pregnant with a show and can't wait to give birth to it, put it in a pram and show it to everyone. This is a metaphor for making TV by the way, I am not pregnant."


Who stars in This Way Up?

(Getty)

Irish comedian Aisling Bea, best known for her stand-up work and appearances on shows like 8 Out of 10 Cats, plays Aine, a woman attempting to recover after a nervous breakdown. BAFTA-winning Catastrophe writer and star Sharon Horgan plays Aine's sister, Shona.

Aasif Mandvi (The Daily Show, Halal in the Family) plays Shona’s boyfriend Vish, while Tobias Menzies (The Crown, Outlander) also joins the cast as Richard, father to one of Aine’s new students, a young French boy who was previously estranged from Richard before his mother died. Indira Varma (best known as Ellaria Sand in Game of Thrones) plays Shona’s colleague and new confidante, Charlotte.

Advertisement

Is there a trailer for This Way Up?

Yes! You can watch it below...


Authors

Flora CarrDrama Writer, RadioTimes.com
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement