What To Expect From Aimee Lou Wood’s New BBC Comedy Daddy Issues

3 months ago

Aimee Lou Wood and David Morrissey co-lead the series as a father and daughter duo

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If TV shows like The Inbetweeners and White Gold make you giggle – classic British comedy, or what? – then you’re in for a treat. Next week, the BBC will finally release a brand new six-part comedy from the team behind those iconic two series. Titled Daddy Issues, Sex Education’s Aimee Lou Wood is at the fore. Here’s everything to know before you tune in.

Daddy Issues: Plot, Cast, Release Date

Written by Danielle Ward (Brassic, In The Long Run), we can’t wait to watch this brand new comedy, starring Aimee Lou Wood as Gemma, putting her native accent to good use in a Stockport setting. ‘It had been a very long time since a script had made me laugh out loud,’ Aimee says. ‘Danielle’s did exactly that. Then when I heard David [Morissey] was involved, I was even more excited. He’s someone I have admired throughout my life. Watching shows like Blackpool and Red Riding when I was younger fuelled my interest in acting and so it feels surreal and amazing to be working with someone I class as a legend and inspiration.’

David plays Gemma’s father, Malcolm, and says: ‘I’m delighted to be working with Aimee Lou Wood as she’s someone I’ve admired for a while now. She’s a truly unique and gifted talent. Danielle has crafted such a funny and heartfelt piece and I’m so excited to be part of it.’

Gemma (Aimee Lou Wood) and Malcolm (David Morrissey) in Daddy Issues. © BBC/Fudge Park Productions/James Stack

What Is Daddy Issues About?

Daddy Issues follows Gemma (Wood), a 24-year-old Stockport woman who lives for the weekend, partying hard and getting absolutely wasted. Returning from a holiday to Portugal, Gemma joins the mile high club with a random guy – and ends up pregnant. It couldn’t come at a worse time. The only person she has in her life is her kind but useless father Malcolm (David Morrissey), who’s lacking some key household skills and, suffering from the collapse of his family, is living in a bedsit for divorced men. So, when Gemma needs support, Malcolm ends up moving in with her, creating a ‘classic odd couple comedy about two funny, deeply flawed characters, who just happen to be father and daughter,’ says the BBC. Naturally, we can expect lots of messy family dynamics, dating disasters, misguided friendships, plus ‘a dangerously sociopathic antenatal teacher’.

‘Daddy Issues is a comedy about a young girl who finds herself in a position in life where she needs help of her family and her family aren’t around,’ explains Morrissey. ‘Her mother has disappeared and her sister is somewhere else, so she has to rely on her dad who’s a bit of a man-child. He’s going through a bit of a crisis, so they are brought together as he tries to help her now she’s pregnant.’

‘Daddy Issues is a very, very funny comedy that also has lots of heart about a father and a daughter getting to know each other as adults and as people,’ adds Wood. ‘They basically wind up as flatmates and what ensues is lots of fun, love and comedy.’

Who Stars?

Aimee Lou Wood as Gemma, a hedonistic, care-free woman who accidentally winds up pregnant
David Morrissey as Malcolm, Gemma’s man-child father who supports Gemma through her pregnancy
Sharon Rooney as Catherine, Gemma’s sister
Taj Atwal as Cherry, Gemma’s friend
David Fynn as Derek, Malcolm’s friend and fellow divorcee
Sarah Hadland as Rita, Gemma’s boss
Claire Keelan as Aunty Jess, Malcolm’s sister and Gemma’s aunt
Perry Fitzpatrick as Tyrone, Jess’ husband
Damien Molony as Fergal
Al Weaver as Danny
Chris Kerry as Winnie
Tom Stourton as Ben
Arian Nik as Xander
Susan Lynch as Davina
Cora Kirk as Tamika
Grace Long as Liv
Cyril Nri as Stuart
Susannah Fielding
Lauren O’Rourke
Sherrie Hewson
David Reed
Humphrey Ker

‘In Daddy Issues, Danielle has created a genuinely laugh out loud sitcom,’ says Jon Petrie, Director of Comedy Commissioning at the BBC. ‘We’re delighted to be working with her, and the Fudge Park team, on the show. Having Aimee and David cast as the co-leads was the cherry on the cake.’

‘I cannot wait for the world to meet Gemma and Malcolm, and I’m so grateful to the BBC for finally giving me my own series, 20 years after I lost the BBC New Comedy Awards,’ series creator Danielle Ward adds. ‘Aimee and David were my dream casting from the get-go and who ever gets their dream cast? It’s a total thrill to be working with such naturally funny and wildly talented actors.’