Writing Alma: Process and Political Drive

This episode contains very strong language and isn’t suitable for small ears.

Sophie Willan is a double BAFTA award-winning writer, comedian and actor, perhaps best known for her BBC comedy drama, Alma's Not Normal. But it wasn’t always red carpets and award ceremonies. Willan experienced an unsettled childhood with spells in foster care, which she talks openly about in this episode. We also talk about a failed Edinburgh show that coincided with an ‘intense’ relationship and what these experiences taught her. Moving, funny and honest, this episode was recorded in front of a lovely live audience at The Lowry in Salford, Manchester.

✨ IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Introduction

02:00 Alma's Not Normal: Success and Challenges

03:00 The Emotional Toll of Comedy

03:55 Awards and Recognition

05:03 Personal Struggles and Triumphs

08:43 Reflections on Care Experience

14:39 Family Stories and Humor

23:46 The Fine Line Between Madness and Comedy

24:49 A Disastrous Improv Show

26:55 The Novice Detective: A Misplaced Comedy

27:55 Facing Criticism and Misogyny in Comedy

31:32 Stories of Care: Empowering Voices

32:27 The Edinburgh Experience: Highs and Lows

38:06 Writing Process: Chaos and Creativity

💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:

We're all quite funny in my family though. It's like a family of emotionally deranged people that have a good sense of humour.

You spend the first half of your life unpicking what you inherited and the second half building something better.

Sad things are funny, and funny things are sad, that’s just how the world is.

🔗 LINKS + MENTIONS:

You can watch Alma’s Not Normal on BBC iPlayer

Listen to Sophie Willan’s episode on Where There’s a Will There’s a Wake

Stories of Care founded by Sophie Willan

Join the How To Fail community: https://howtofail.supportingcast.fm/#content

Elizabeth’s Substack: https://theelizabethday.substack.com/

Join Elizabeth Day for a special How to Fail live show at Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield! Tickets on sale now: https://crossedwires.live/podcast/how-to-fail

📚 WANT MORE?

Mae Martin - comedian, writer and actor on identity, anxiety and learning to trust yourself without external approval https://link.chtbl.com/F50L9kqQ

Adeel Akhtar - on self-doubt, feeling like an outsider and how success can change your sense of belonging swap.fm/l/eWxKBXUJZAAkfovquzwi

Fern Brady - the comedian and author on class, misogyny and neurodivergence. http://swap.fm/l/cmeompBv7EHK20enmwbS

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Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan

Engineer: Matias Torres

Assistant Producer: Suhaar Ali

Senior Producer: Hannah Talbot

Executive Producer: Alex Lawless

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