David Tennant and Jessica Hynes back for an hour-long special

There She Goes – the BBC comedy-drama starring David Tennant and Jessica Hynes as the parents of a girl with severe learning disabilities – is to return for an hour-long special.

Filming has started on the new episode, based on the real-life experiences of writers Shaun Pye and Sarah Crawford, whose daughter Joey was born with an extremely rare chromosomal disorder.

The new special follows two series, each of five half-hour episodes, which aired in 2018 and 2020. It will revolve around the family struggling to deal with the increasingly wild behaviour of the now 13-year-old Rosie – played by   Miley Locke – as she tries to comprehend puberty.

Pye and Crawford told how the one-off had been inspired by their own life, saying in a statement: ‘In the space of a few weeks in early 2020 during a pivotal phase in our daughter’s life, our family experienced the most poignantly funny moments, painfully difficult lows and exhilaratingly uplifting highs of life with Joey.

‘We’re so pleased we are getting to share this funny, difficult, but ultimately joyous story of bringing up a child who’s different.’

The show is being made by Merman, the production company set up by Sharon Horgan and producer Clelia Mountford, who said: ‘It’s a privilege to be working so closely with the Pye family and our wonderful team once again and to be able to share the next significant chapter of Rosie’s story.

‘We’re very thankful to Shaun and Sarah and to all those involved in helping bring such an emotive and personal story to our screens.’

The  special, which also stars Edan Hayhurst as Rosie’s older brother, will air on BBC Two and the iPlayer – where the first two series are still available – although a broadcast date has not yet been revealed,

Seb Barwell, the commissioning editor for BBC comedy, said: ‘We are thrilled to return to the story of Rosie and family in a 60-minute special that has the raw honesty, disarming humour and stellar performances we’ve come to expect from There She Goes, with some fresh developments that will break hearts and uplift viewers in equal measure.’

Written and created by: Shaun Pye and Sarah Crawford
Director: Tom McKay
Producer: Clelia Mountford
Made by: Merman
Executive producers: Clelia Mountford and Sharon Horgan
Commissioned by: Jon Petrie
Commissioning editor: Seb Barwell

Published: 16 Jan 2023