The Channel 4 comedy about a group of young Muslim women who form a punk band is back with a vengeance!
We Are Lady Parts was a hit during lockdown, attracting a diverse audience with its beautifully crafted characters, fantastically funny dialogue and incredibly original feel. Series one ended with the group heading out on tour for the first time, and we meet them again as they are deciding where to go from here, with the next logical step being to record their first album.
The women are also facing personal challenges at home and at their day jobs, and contending with a super-fan who’s created a rival Muslim punk band called ‘Second Wife’.
The show has an absolutely stellar core cast, and this series also includes some amazing guest appearances including Meera Syal and Malala Yousafzai. The band is made up of Amina (Anjana Vasan), Saira (Sarah Impey), Ayesha (Juliette Motamed) and Bisma (Faith Omole), who all rock out, genuinely playing their instruments and sing each song as a credible band. Their manager, Momtaz (Lucie Shorthouse), works hard to keep them on track and professional while fending off those gigs that pay in ‘exposure’ – a very relatable struggle for those making their way in the entertainment industry.
Nida Manzoor has created something very special with this show. Too often, characters of faith are written as needing to reject their religion or culture in order to find themselves. In We Are Lady Parts, they embrace and celebrate their heritage, even while they explore boundaries and expectations. You can feel the difference it makes when your writers room and team have lived experience of the specific lens through which you are sharing. And these are also powerful female role models.
The new series cranks up the comedy and creativity rating up to 11. Every camera angle, every glance, every prop is considered and brings something extra to the party. This show addresses the strive for authenticity and identity like no other.
And… it’s really, really good.
All episodes of Season 1 available to watch here, and Season 2 launches on Channel 4 on Thursday 30th May.
