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Lily Allen to Star in Sky Comedy-Drama Dreamland

Everything We Know About Lily Allen's New TV Show, "Dreamland"

Jul 29 2022

After an Olivier-nominated West End stage debut and an iconic cameo during Olivia Rodrigo's recent Glastonbury set, Lily Allen is adding another string to her ever-growing bow by making the move into TV.

The British singer and actor will be making her television debut in "Dreamland", a new Sky Original comedy from the mind of Sharon Horgan, of "Catastrophe", and Merman, the production company that brought us award-winning comedies such as "Motherland", "Frayed", and "This Way Up." Described by Sky as "a comedy-drama about secrets, lies, loves, and aspirations within a family of four sisters", the show recently started filming in Margate, Kent.

The series won't hit our screens until 2023, but there's plenty of information to get us excited about it already. Here's everything we know so far about Allen's new show, "Dreamland."

Image Source: Sky

"Dreamland" First Picture

The first image of the show, released by Sky on 15 July, gave us a glimpse of Allen in character. The photo, also shared by Allen on Instagram, shows her with costar Agyeman, whom you may have seen on "Doctor Who", standing in the Dreamland amusement park in Margate. It offers little information as to the plot of the show, but from the serious expressions on their faces, it can be assumed that "Dreamland" will provide us with plenty of drama as well as laughs.

Allen captioned her Instagram post: "It's new, it's set in Margate, it's giving seaside realness. Here is your first look at me and Freema Agyeman in Dreamland, a brand-new Sky Original comedy."

Image Source: Sky

"Dreamland" Cast

Allen might be best known for her iconic music, including noughties tracks "Smile" and "Alfie", but she's been making the move into acting for some time. "Dreamland" marks Allen's television debut, as she follows her husband, David Harbour of "Stranger Things" fame, onto the small screen. This move follows her run in the West End production "2:22 A Ghost Story", a role that earned her a WhatsOnStage Award for best actress in a play, as well as an Olivier Award nomination. She also previously starred in Lionsgate's "How to Build a Girl", a film based on Caitlin Moran's novel of the same name.

In "Dreamland", Allen stars as Mel, a woman who makes an unexpected return into the lives of her family. Agyeman coleads the series as Trish, Mel's sister, who's pregnant for the third time and determined for the baby to be a girl. Agyeman rose to fame in 2007, starring as Martha Jones on "Doctor Who". Since then, she's gone on to appear in Netflix fan favourite "Sense8" and NBC medical drama "New Amsterdam".

Image Source: Getty/Joseph Okpako/WireImage

"Dreamland" Plot

Based on a BAFTA Award-winning Sky Arts short film, "Morgana Robinson's Summer", "Dreamland" is "a dark comedic exploration of multi-generational female relationships, and their somewhat dysfunctional family dynamics".

The eldest sister, Trish, is pregnant for the third time with her partner, Spence, and is determined that it's going to be a girl. Her sisters Clare and Leila, mum, and nan try to "manifest" it for her. But when their other sister, Mel, unexpectedly turns up and reappears in their lives, it threatens to throw the family into disarray.

Sky promises the show will offer "a heartfelt exploration of the relationships between these strong, vibrant women".

Image Source: Getty/Rob Stothard

"Dreamland" Location

The show is set, and currently filming, in the sun-drenched British seaside town of Margate in Kent. The name of the series, "Dreamland", refers to the fairground and amusement arcade that can be found in the town. It is considered the oldest amusement park in the UK and has also been the setting for a number of other comedies, including "Two Weeks to Live", also from Sky Comedy, starring Mawaan Rizwan and Maisie Adam.

It was also the setting of the original short film on which the series is based. Margate has been having a resurgence recently. Harry Styles chose the seaside town for his pop-up Pleasing shop this summer, rock band The Libertines opened a hotel there, and it's home to retro roller discos and inclusive LGBTQ+ venues.

Image Source: GettyLorne Thomson/Redferns

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"Dreamland" Production Team

The show's concept comes from Horgan, best known for shows such as "Catastrophe" and "This Way Down". She most recently starred in the meta-comedy film "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent" alongside Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal.

That being said, Horgan, whilst responsible for the themes and general idea, is not one of the writers working on the series, although she does serve in a producer capacity. The show is written by Gabby Best, Sharma Walfall, Sarah Kendall, and Emma Jane Unsworth, the latter of whom also serves as showrunner and executive producer. The series will be directed by Ellie Heydon.

Image Source: Getty/Ian West

"Dreamland" Release Date

"Dreamland" is set to release in 2023, though a specific date has not been set. It will be available to view on Sky Comedy and NOW TV.

Image Source: Sky

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