Sophie Willan is piloting a BBC Two sitcom loosely based on her own life.

Alma’s Not Normal is about a Boltonian wild-child, Alma Nuthall, and her family of eccentric, unruly women. 

With no qualifications and a rebellious streak, she decides to become an escort to support her dreams of becoming a star and leaving Bolton. Meanwhile, Alma’s mother Lin battles with both her addiction to heroin and her troubled relationship with her own mother Joan with the same chaotic fervour. 

Having only just discovered feminism and sexual liberation, Alma’s vampish Grandma Joan, must contend with her daughter suddenly moving in with her.

Willan, who is also from Bolton, has spoken about her experiences as an escort and as the daughter of a drug addict in her stand-up.

The comedian was nominated for best newcomer at the Edinburgh Comedy awards two years ago,  and went on to win the BBC’s inaugural Caroline Aherne Bursary Award last year, which helped fund her writing and developing this sitcom.

BBC Two controller Patrick Holland today called her a ‘brilliant new talent’ .

The executive producer of Alma’s Not Normal is Nerys Evans and the commissioning editor  is Kate Daughton