Channel 4 Recommissions 'Flowers'

Channel 4 has announced that the sitcom 'Flowers' is to return for a second series.

In association with US comedy streaming channel Seeso, the show will return for six 30-minute episodes. It is about the eccentric Flowers family; mum Deborah (Olivia Coleman), dad Maurice (Julian Barratt), and their grown-up twins Donald (Daniel Rigby) and Amy (Sophia di Martino).

Flowers first aired on Channel 4 in Spring 2016 and the new series will follow Deborah and Maurice as they look at a new era in their marriage as they see if they can come through the challenges they faced in season one – namely Maurice's suicide attempt, Deborah's infidelity, and their children's inheritance of their emotional foibles.

Series two will see Donald and Amy, whose arrested development was a major part of series one, are now forging their own futures amongst the fallout of their parent's complicated love and their own new enterprises.

Nerys Evans, Deputy Head of Comedy, commissioned the show for Channel 4 and said: "Covering deeply complex issues like fidelity, mental health, sexuality and fraying family bonds, Will Sharpe's hilariously awkward and heart-breaking show offers another unmissable look at the Flowers' messed up world. Will's scripts and the show's perfect cast are so brilliant at making you wail with laughter one minute, and well up the next. I couldn't be more excited for the family's return to Channel 4."

Creator, Writer and Director of Flowers, Will Sharpe – who also plays the role of Shun in the show – added: "Channel 4, Kudos, Seeso and Naomi de Pear have all been such supportive partners on this show and I'm very excited about working with them on another series of Flowers. We are looking forward to spending time with these characters again and are already making plans about how to make the most of this opportunity to see a new chapter in their lives."

Naomi de Pear, Executive Producer, commented: "There's so much more pain and silliness to mine in the lives of the Flower family. I feel very lucky to be plotting the next era of tragicomedy for this dysfunctional and soulful bunch with the ridiculously poly-talented visionary Will Sharpe. And proud that it will be the first production I make at my new label."

Diederick Santer, Executive Producer for Kudos, said: "We're so pleased that C4 and Seeso are wanting more of Will's truly unique show, and can't wait to make it."

Evan Shapiro, Head of Seeso, added: "The Flowers are perhaps the most unique family on TV. It is wonderful to be working with the outrageously talented Will Sharpe, the spectacular cast, and our generous partners to bring them back."

Flowers was commissioned by Nerys Evans, Deputy Head of Comedy and Phil Clarke, Acting Head of Drama & Head of Comedy for Channel 4 in association with NBCUniversal's Digital Enterprises' comedy streaming platform Seeso (Evan Shapiro, Kelsey Balance and Dan Kerstetter).

It will be executive produced by Naomi de Pear within her new label being launched at Sister Pictures and Diederick Santer for Kudos and will film in 2017. The series will be distributed by Endemol Shine International.

www.channel4.com

(JP/LM)