Hit BBC family sitcom renewed for a second series by bosses
HIT family sitcom Things You Should Have Done has been renewed for a second series by BBC bosses.
The series follows ‘stay at home daughter’ Chi, played by writer and creator Lucia Keskin, who must learn to fend for herself after the death of her parents.
The six-part series premiered earlier this year and will now return to screens for an exciting second instalment.
From the unique comedy mind of Lucia, the upcoming series is set to bring another dose of hilariously offbeat, dysfunctional family-sitcom.
The first series follows self-confessed stay-at-home daughter Chi, as she navigates her way through a list of ‘Things You Should Have Done’ left by her late parents.
Each episode title is an item on the list, so she navigates learning to drive, getting a job, learning to cook, paying her own bills and learning how to support others.
“Chi is forced to fend for herself and has to learn to juggle the demands of modern life whilst having to prepare for the arrival of her highly strung Auntie Karen’s (Selin Hizli) baby,” the official synopsis of the show teases.
Alongside Lucia and Selin, Dan Ferne and Jamie Bisping will also return as the loveable father and son Dave and Lucas caught up in the chaos of Chi’s life.
Speaking about the show’s second series renewal, Lucia joked: “The BBC gave us the devastating news that we have to go again for series two, which means I might actually have to work again. Gutted.”
Meanwhile, producer Steve Monger added a more upbeat statement. “We go again! Another trip to sunny Ramsgate by way of Chi’s brilliant imagination. Very much look forward to bringing the dysfunctional family back to your screens,” he said.
“In Things You Should Have Done, Lucia has created something brilliantly surreal and totally unique. We can’t wait to see what else is on Chi’s list and what other antics will be unleashed on the unsuspecting locals of Ramsgate,” Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy, added.
Fans of the show also celebrated the renewal and urged other BBC viewers to watch the series if they haven’t already.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one viewer gushed: “Things You Should Have Done is back for series 2! Can’t wait for what Chi has in store.”
“Things You Should Have Done on BBC is the best comedy I’ve seen since Phoenix Nights. Hilarious. The whole cast are fantastic,” praised another.
A third commented: “I decided to try the BBC sitcom Things You Should Have Done. If you haven’t watched it yet, give yourself a treat. It’s bloody brilliant.”
Meanwhile, a fourth viewer praised how well written the show is.
Best BBC comedies
We look back at some of the best to ever grace the screen.
Fawlty Towers (1975-1979) – Only two series were made of the beloved institution. However, the cultural impact of the series starring John Cleese and Connie Booth spans decades. It follows rude and intolerant Basil Fawlty (Cleese) as he attempts to improve the reputation of his hotel.
Only Fools and Horses (1981-2003) – The show was crowned by some as the best British sitcom of all time by a TV poll in 2004. Seven series were broadcast on BBC until 1991 with additional sporadic Christmas specials airing until 2003. Sir David Jason starred as ambitious market trader Derek “Del Boy” Trotter whilst Nicholas Lyndhurst played his younger half-brother Rodney. Set in working-class Peckham in south-east London, it follows the highs and lows of the lives of the Trotters’, in particular their brazen attempts to get rich.
Blackadder (1983 – 1989) – Four series were made of the iconic show, created by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson. Each series spans a different historical period as anti-hero Edmund Blackadder (Atkinson) tries to better himself in each society. Accompanied by his dogsbody Baldrick (Tony Robinson), trouble always ensues. A TV poll in 2004 found that Blackadder was voted the second-best British sitcom of all time
Absolutely Fabulous (1992 – 2012) – Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley star as failing PR guru Edina ‘Eddie’ Monsoon and alcoholic fashionista Patsy Stone. The pair embark on heavy-drinking sessions and abuse drugs in a desperate attempt to stay ‘hip’. Eddie constantly chases bizarre fads and fails to lose weight whilst her disappointed and neglected daughter Saffy (Julia Sawalha) looks on.
Little Britain (2003 – 2006) – The premise is simple. A sketch show which features different British people from all walks of life that are engaged in all sorts of comical scenarios. Starring Matt Lucas and David Walliams, the pair created iconic pop culture characters. Viewers loved obnoxious council estate teenager Vicky Pollard, morbidly obese scrounger Bubbles Devere, slimming coach Marjorie Dawes, despondent office worker Carol Beer, disgraced politician Sir Norman Fry, of course the iconic Lou and Andy!
The Catherine Tate Show (2004-2015) – A sketch show starring the likes of Catherine Tate. She made iconic characters such as rowdy schoolgirl Lauren Cooper with her line ‘Am I bovvered?’. Other characters featured Bernie the nurse, the aga saga woman, complaining couple Janice and Ray, and of course her infamous ‘Nan’, Joannie Taylor. The last character herself spawned multiple specials and even a movie.
Gavin and Stacey (2007 – Present) The series tells the story of Gavin (Matthew Horne) and Stacey (Joanna Page). The pair embarked on an online and telephone romance for six months. But when they finally decide to be together properly, their friends and family get in the way. Ruth Jones and James Corden created the beloved show, which has been going for over a decade. The 2019 Christmas special was the most-watched comedy in 17 years and the most-viewed non-sporting event in a decade.
“So good. It’s one of the reasons why I really enjoyed Things You Should Have Done. I have loved and shouted about so many great female written/directed/acted comedies the BBC have brought us lately but so many seem to have been commissioned BECAUSE they have strong female characters and they empower and push women’s issues to the fore,” they said.
Things You Should Have Done recently won Best Comedy Programme at the Broadcast Digital Awards.
It will return to BBC Three and iPlayer for an exciting second series which consists of six, thirty-minute episodes.
Things You Should Have Done is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.