In My Skin writer Kayleigh Llewellyn on the return of her BBC comedy

The Bafta-winning comedy-drama In My Skin, about Welsh teenager Bethan (Gabrielle Creevy),  leading a double life as she negotiates a mentally ill mother and an abusive father as well as friendships and sexuality is about to return to the BBC. Here writer, Kayleigh Llewellyn talks about the show...

What can you tell us about the new series of In My Skin?

The new series follows Bethan as she's preparing to fly the nest. She's falling in love, she’s thinking about university - in short she’s growing up. But she’s forced to choose between pursuing her own happiness and her responsibilities to her mum.

How did you find writing the scripts for the second series?

In many ways it was a painless labour, the scripts came to me so quickly and easily this time round. It’s like I’ve been unconsciously writing this thing somewhere in the recesses of my brain for years and it was a relief to finally just let it all out.

And there was a particular joy writing the characters now with the voices of the actors in my head. I had a great time trying to dream up things to shock them, or make them laugh, or just moments that as actors they’d read and think, ‘I can’t wait to sink my teeth in to that.’ I was just so excited to give it to them and see where they’d run with it.

I also found writing this series far more emotional than the pilot and series one. There was a lot of tears. I was extremely dehydrated by the end.

Why do you think that was?

A lot of soul-searching, and revisiting old memories that I’d otherwise locked away. It also gave me a new found gratitude for all the sacrifices my mum made so that I can lead the happy life I am today.

Basically creating this show has been like very intense but highly effective therapy. I’m grateful I’ve had the opportunity to process it all in this way.

Is the new series as autobiographical as the first?

Yes, although we’re never beholden to the autobiographical aspect. First and foremost it’s always about telling the best possible story, we’re not making a documentary.

The key creatives are mostly female on the series, including first-time director Molly Manners. How important to you was it to highlight female talent?

Extremely important, and it was the only way it was ever going to be done. We didn't meet any male directors at all.

I always wanted a mostly female creative team and it was especially important that it was a female director.

On series one, we were lucky enough to work with the incredible Lucy Forbes. Lucy had been waiting years for a break and we were able to offer her a platform to showcase her immense talents.

And there are so many other extremely talented female directors waiting for their break. While we’re making huge strides in the right direction, this industry still tends to view new male talent as untapped geniuses, and new female talent as a risk. So with series two, Nerys (Evans, executive producer) and I wanted to offer a platform to another female director.

And in walked Molly Manners. Her work on this series is outstanding. Her technical eye, the sensitivity with which she communicates with performers, her ability to capture big belly laughs and then underscore the tiniest gut punch emotional texture - she’s fantastic. If I was a betting woman I’d say Molly is going to be huge...

Are there any particular moments you're especially proud of portraying in the series?

One of the things I'm most proud of, and it tracks back to series one, is our depiction of bipolar disorder. Jo Hartley [who plays Trina] is so integral in this, the amount of research and forethought that goes into her performance is the linchpin.

In series one we only really see Trina in the height of a manic episode, so in series two I really wanted to explore the myriad nuances of the illness. And also to show Trina when she’s well, the kind, brilliant, woman that she is.

I'm also really proud of our depiction of Bethan’s first love in this series. There are so few lesbian storylines on TV, and I'm really glad that we have what I think is a great one.

Are there any other moments that you’re proud of?

Dilwyn [Bethan’s father] and the domestic violence storyline. In many ways he’s an awful man. But I wanted to find the odd moment where we show that he's not a stock monster, he’s a traumatised human being himself.

And if mental health and domestic violence all sounds a bit heavy, it’s also laugh out loud funny. Well, it makes me laugh anyway...

What do you hope viewers will take away from the series?

I hope that if any of the themes we touch upon have affected any of our viewers that they watch it and they feel seen, that they feel a hand on their shoulder saying, ‘you're not alone, me too"'

And I hope that we can forge a way for more lesbian storylines, and storylines about mental health, and domestic violence.

I tried to use the show as a Trojan horse. So, there's jokes and there's kids getting drunk and talking about cum. But behind that are the messages that I want to hammer home. That’s how I’d sum it up, important messages wrapped up in dick jokes.

We hear this may be the final series of In My Skin…

Yes, the intention was always to do two series. I can’t say much more than that, other than the final scene was in my head before I ever wrote any of the rest of it.

• In My Skin series 2 will be available on BBC Three & BBC iPlayer from 6am on Sunday.  It will also air on BBC One starting Friday  November 12 at 11.25pm

Published: 2 Nov 2021