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We Are Lady Parts

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We Are Lady Parts
GenreSitcom
Created byNida Manzoor
Written byNida Manzoor
Directed byNida Manzoor
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes12
Production
Executive producers
ProducerJohn Pocock
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time24–25 minutes
Production companyWorking Title Television
Original release
Network
Release20 May 2021 (2021-05-20) –
present (present)

We Are Lady Parts is a British television sitcom created, written, and directed by Nida Manzoor. The series follows a British punk rock band named Lady Parts, which consists entirely of Muslim women.

After airing as a 14-minute pilot on 21 December 2018 on Channel 4, it was commissioned for a six-episode series co-produced with Peacock, which premiered 20 May 2021.[1] The show has been nominated for multiple accolades including two prizes at the Gotham Awards and a Rose d'Or award.[2] In November 2021, creator Nida Manzoor received the Rose d'Or Emerging Talent Award for her work on the show.[3][4]

Premise

[edit]

An all-female Muslim punk band in the UK takes inspiration from London's rich and diverse collection of cultures. Friendships, relationships and cultural differences are navigated as the band seeks musical success.[5][6]

Cast

[edit]

Outside musicians

[edit]

The final episode featured several musicians from outside the production:

Episodes

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SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
Pilot21 December 2018 (2018-12-21)
1620 May 2021 (2021-05-20)24 June 2021 (2021-06-24)
2630 May 2024 (2024-05-30)13 June 2024 (2024-06-13)

Pilot (2018)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.K. viewers
(millions)
––"Lady Parts"Nida ManzoorNida Manzoor21 December 2018 (2018-12-21)N/A

27-year-old Amina Hussain is studying for a doctorate in biochemical engineering alongside meeting potential spouses. The protagonist breaks the fourth wall by directly addressing the audience.

Amina's orbit collides with Muslim punk band Lady Parts when she inadvertently finds herself at their auditions for a new lead guitarist. The band, a three-piece all-girl outfit from Camden comprises: Saira, the tattooed lead singer and guitarist who is a halal butcher; Ayesha, the drummer and Uber driver; Bisma, the bass guitarist with a market stall selling her artworks, and Momtaz (AKA Taz), the band's niqāb-clad manager who sells cheap ladies' lingerie.

Closing credits track: "Kill My Sister".

Series 1 (2021)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
season		Title [8]Directed byWritten byOriginal air date [8]U.K. viewers
(millions)
11"Play Something"Nida ManzoorNida Manzoor20 May 2021 (2021-05-20)N/A

The first two acts of the opening episode are an extended version of the pilot. Amina is now a 26-year-old student finishing her PhD in microbiology. When her best friend Noor reveals that she is engaged, Amina is determined to find a significant other as well. After Ayesha's brother, Ahsan Alkaf, hands her a flyer for Lady Parts' auditions she visits the butcher's shop to track him down. There, Saira recognises her from primary school. At a charity fundraiser, Amina is forced onto stage despite her fear of performing in public when one of her music students gets stage fright and drops out.

Featured tracks: "Ain't No One Gonna Honour Kill My Sister but Me". "I Am a Girl of Constant Sorrow".
Closing credits track: "All the Small Things".
22"Potential Future Spouse"Nida ManzoorNida Manzoor27 May 2021 (2021-05-27)N/A

Momtaz attempts to raise the bands' profile with an online presence but Saira has serious misgivings. With the upcoming Sound Smash competition, the band track Amina to her university lab and offer to fix her up on a date with Ahsan in exchange for auditioning as their lead guitarist. Despite a few embarrassing mishaps on date night, Amina is giddy with excitement when Ahsan messages her to say he had a great time. She invites him to Noor's engagement party. When he friend zone's her, Amina's dejection finds an outlet through her music.

Featured track: "Bashir With the Good Beard".
33"Earth Natives"Nida ManzoorNida Manzoor3 June 2021 (2021-06-03)N/A

Amina tries to keep her two lives separated, one as lead guitarist in a punk rock band and one as Noor’s best friend. However, when the Sound Smash audition slot is revealed to clash with Noor's engagement party, she has an anxiety attack. The band take her into the countryside for some primal scream therapy and bond around a campfire. When Amina bumps into Ahsan at university, Noor remarks how much she is looking forward to seeing the couple at her engagement party. Ahsan agrees to accompany Amina to the party in order to keep up appearances. Having escaped to the audition, Amina freezes on stage when the band's big moment comes.

Featured track: "Voldemort Under My Headscarf".
44"Godzilla"Nida ManzoorNida Manzoor10 June 2021 (2021-06-10)N/A

Amina apologies to Noor for abandoning her engagement party and to Saira for the disastrous audition, but expresses the desire to remain in the band. In return, Saira persuades Amina to recite a poem at an open mic night at a local pub in an attempt to help her overcome the stage anxiety. Despite the setback of the audition, Momtaz continues to promote the band online and agrees to a magazine piece for an influencer called Zarina. Ayesha believes she has found love at first sight. Zarina arranges for the band to play a gig in a pub full of racists.

Featured track: "9 to 5"
55"Represent"Nida ManzoorNida Manzoor17 June 2021 (2021-06-17)N/A

Having overcome her stage fright and now a fully fledged member of Lady Parts, Amina juggles her commitments to the band and her best friend Noor, whose wedding day approaches. Ahsan decides to progress his relationship with Amina beyond his self-declared friend zone. When Zarina's magazine piece is published it portrays the band and its members in a less than flattering light, resulting in a lot of online hate and threatening to tear the band apart. Noor, alerted to the deception by her best friend, disowns Amina, who has a crisis of conscience and quits the band.

Featured tracks: "Fish and Chips".
Closing credits track: "Yaar Vekho" by Sanam Marvi
66"Sparta"Nida ManzoorNida Manzoor24 June 2021 (2021-06-24)N/A

A month later, Noor reconciles with Amina and resumes the hunt to find her a suitable husband. Bisma starts temping as a receptionist to fill the band-shaped hole in her life and Ayesha finds new employment as a food courier after crashing her car. Lady Parts' fans, however, start a grassroots campaign and Momtaz decides a gig is warranted to meet the demand. With the original members reunited the venue is revealed to be a builder's yard. Amina rejects the band's overtures and declines to rejoin. As the band prepare to perform without her, Amina has a change of heart.

Featured tracks: "Creep". "We Are the Champions".

Series 2 (2024)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.K. viewers
(millions)
71"Villain Era"Nida ManzoorNida Manzoor30 May 2024 (2024-05-30)N/A

Having completed her PhD, Amina and the band are touring across the UK with her mother and Ahsan acting as roadies. The band decide the next step is to record their first album and with a renowned producer lined-up, the only hurdles are the recording studio and sound engineer fees. Whilst trying to secure more gigs to raise the cash, Momtaz learns of competition in the form of Second Wife, another muslim girl-band, who are doing cover versions of Lady Parts' songs. At a folk music evening, Ahsan's jealousy is aroused when Amina finds a kindred spirit in his friend and colleague Billy.

Featured tracks: "More Than Words", "Villain Era"
Closing credits: "Look What They've Done to My Song, Ma"
82"Malala Made Me Do It"Nida ManzoorNida Manzoor30 May 2024 (2024-05-30)N/A

Noor, who is in the late stages of pregnancy, and Amina are now reconciled. Saira receives an eviction notice from the council who intend to redevelop her block. After the loss of both their rehearsal space and mojo, rescue comes in the form of Laura, Ayesha's new partner, who offers the use of her parents' summer retreat in Norfolk. When Lady Parts are offered a deal to endorse mascara, the band learns that Momtaz has been approached by Second Wife to become their manager and has signed them to her record label. At the retreat, the band pen a new track with a distinctly non-punk sound, celebrate Saira's 30th birthday, and agree to play a fan's wedding in order to raise some cash.

Guest starring: Malala Yousafzai.
Featured track: "Malala Made Me Do It"
93"It's Britney, Bitch"Nida ManzoorNida Manzoor6 June 2024 (2024-06-06)N/A

After the band turn up at the wedding and play cover versions in their distinctive style, Saira is approached by a professional artist manager, whom she subsequently agrees to meet. Amina joins Billy on Denmark Street to look at guitars and the two proceed to flirt. When the non-believer kisses her, Amina runs away as fast as she can. Ayesha meets Laura's parents over an awkward lunch. When Lady Parts have an informal get together with Second Wife at Bisma's house, the resentment between the struggling millennials and the successful gen-z's resurfaces. The band agree to a fashion shoot in their desperation to raise more money.

Featured track: "Oops!... I Did It Again"
Closing credits: "Zaharilia" by El Michels Affair
104"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"Nida ManzoorNida Manzoor6 June 2024 (2024-06-06)N/A

After the dumpster fire that was the photo shoot, the band take a break from weekly rehearsals and Saira takes the opportunity to hear what Clarice, the professional manager, has to say. When Ayesha denies that Laura is her girlfriend after being spotted together in public, her lack of honesty about her sexuality comes under the microscope. Amina's guilt about Billy manifests itself with some pretty strange dreams. When she eventually confesses to Noor, a weight is lifted off her shoulders. Bisma has her hair restyled in cornrows as a new form of self-expression and considers retiring her headscarf. When the band meet at the studios after their hiatus, Saira reveals the offer from Clarice. Momtaz turns up unexpectedly and gives them her blessing, but returns home to her mother in tears.

Featured track: "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"
Closing credits: "Habbetek" by Rasha Nahas
115"Funny Muslim Song"Nida ManzoorNida Manzoor13 June 2024 (2024-06-13)N/A

Lady Parts sign a record deal with a big label and begin recording their first studio album. Introduced to her idol, Sister Squire, Saira loses her self-composure, but when Lady Parts' music is described as light-weight 'fun' Saira's songwriting takes a deeper political turn. The other band members are concerned that this new direction doesn't reflect their lived experience. Clarice also cautions Saira against the move. Amina gives Billy another chance but realises he is not the man for her and may be exoticising her. Meanwhile, Momtaz takes a trip to her hometown of Birmingham to see her sister and comes across an undiscovered talent in the freestyle rapping of one her childhood friends.

Guest starring: Meera Syal

Closing credits: "Nbeed" by Rasha Nahas
126"Glass Ceiling Feeling (US) / The Reason (UK)"Nida ManzoorNida Manzoor13 June 2024 (2024-06-13)N/A

When the label brings in session musicians to help 'finesse' Lady Parts' tracks, the band rebel against Lucien, the A&R guy. Saira remains dissociated from the entire process as she understands they have signed away the rights to the album. Clarice explains to the band how the industry works. In an attempt to reconnect with Momtaz, Saira agrees to give Second Wife a songwriting lesson and discovers the multitude of musicians Taz has taken under her wing. At the launch of Villain Era, the band's debut album, Saira discovers that a key track is missing. In protest, the band upload the entire album online for people to download for free and make a hasty exit. Amina finally declares her interest in Ahsan by serenading him.

Featured tracks: "Glass Ceiling Feeling". "The Reason".
Closing credits: "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)"

Production

[edit]

Lady Parts was first ordered as pilot for Channel 4's "Comedy Blaps" strand in mid 2018.[9] The 14-minute pilot premiered later the same year.[10][11]

Shez Manzoor scored the show. The commissioned series contains both original punk songs and cover tracks. Nida Manzoor wrote and adapted this music alongside her siblings Shez and Sanya Manzoor and Benni Fregin.[11][12][13] The actors in the show all play their own instruments,[14] although some had to learn specifically in order to perform on the show.[15] Manzoor explained that "the band's music is such an intrinsic part of the show. Through the music, we see the characters in their element and singing their truth, capturing them in all their joy and silliness. This soundtrack is best enjoyed turned up to eleven, headbanging alone in one's bedroom".[16]

Broadcast

[edit]

We Are Lady Parts premiered on Channel 4 on 20 May 2021, with all episodes simultaneously becoming available for streaming on All 4.[16][12][11] In November 2021, Peacock and Channel 4 announced that a second series had been commissioned.[17] Series 2 includes cameos from education activist Malala Yousafzai and comedian Meera Syal.[18]

International broadcast

[edit]

Series 1 premiered on 21 May 2021 on Stan (Australia) and Sky New Zealand and later on Peacock (United States) on 3 June 2021 and Showcase (Canada) on 9 June 2021.[16] Series 2 premiered on 30 May 2024 on Peacock (United States) and Channel 4 (United Kingdom) with all episodes made available for streaming on both platforms.[19][20]

Reception

[edit]

Critical reception

[edit]

On Rotten Tomatoes, series 1 has a score of 100% based on 48 critics with an average rating of 8.20 out of 10. The critical consensus reads, "Infectious energy, great songs, and a magnetic cast come together to make We Are Lady Parts a rocking comedy that is as subversive as it is hilarious".[21] On Metacritic, series 1 has a score of 83 out of 100 based on 17 reviews indicating "universal acclaim".[22]

Radhika Seth from Vogue described the series as a "riotous comedy that's unlike anything you've seen before"; they stated that it "hinges on a quintet of note-perfect performances".[23] The Financial Times discussed that "progressive representations highlight a truth about being a modern-day Muslim: you can be both God-fearing and weed-smoking; disorderly and devotional. Far from a clash, these things reflect a cultural mish-mash of the tangled and contradictory parts of ourselves that make us delightfully, bafflingly human", and "We Are Lady Parts is among a wave of shows casting off stereotypes and at ease with complexity... The well-worn trope of oppressed Muslim women is nowhere to be seen among these tattooed, anarchic rebels, who are, nevertheless, practising Muslims. When they're not prostrating in prayer, they are ripping through provocative punk anthems such as 'Nobody's Gonna Honour Kill My Sister But Me'".[24] The Guardian said: "We Are Lady Parts's writing is pleasingly knowing. By the end of the first few episodes, a litany of Muslim stereotypes have been poked fun at... What is particularly striking is how refreshingly cheerful it all is. The series is reminiscent of the Canadian sitcom Schitt's Creek and the joy it spread for showing a same-sex couple without the constant terror of homophobia... We Are Lady Parts does something that many diverse shows have not: it delivers on the potential of representation. In short, it actually is funny. And not in an "in-joke" way, but in the classic slapstick way of people falling over, and wry observations about the complexities of modern womanhood".[25]

Series 2 has a score of 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 16 critics.[26] On Metacritic, series 2 has a score of 84 out of 100 based on 10 reviews, once again indicating "universal acclaim".[27] Rachael Healey of inews awarded the second series 4 stars out of 5, noting that "This series shifts further towards drama than the first". Ellen Jones of The Guardian, also awarded the follow-up series four stars, commenting "We Are Lady Parts strides into its second series with a combination of insouciant self-assurance and anarchic enthusiasm that is itself very punk".[28] Benji Wilson of The Daily Telegraph gave the series a middling 3 stars, stating that "Formerly funny, brazen and buccaneering, this new series simply involves too many characters".[29]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2021
 Edinburgh International Television Festival Best Comedy Series We Are Lady Parts Won [30][31]
Gotham Awards Outstanding Performance in New Series Anjana Vasan Nominated [2]
Breakthrough Series – Short Format We Are Lady Parts Nominated
Rose d'Or Awards Emerging Talent Award Nida Manzoor Won [32][4]
Golden Reel Awards Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – 1/2 Hour – Comedy or Drama Jay Price, Tom Foster, Dario Swade, and Sam Walsh (for "Sparta") Nominated [33]
RTS Craft & Design Awards Editing – Entertainment and Comedy Robbie Morrison Won [34]
Make Up Design – Entertainment & Non Drama Claire Carter Won
Production Design – Entertainment & Non Drama Simon Walker Won
Casting Award Aisha Bywaters Nominated
Photography – Drama & Comedy Diana Olifirova Nominated
2022
 Broadcast Awards Best Comedy Programme We Are Lady Parts Highly Commended [35]
National Comedy Awards Outstanding Comedy Actress Anjana Vasan Nominated [36]
BAFTA TV Awards Best Scripted Comedy We Are Lady Parts Nominated [37]
Best Female Comedy Performance Anjana Vasan Nominated
BAFTA TV Craft Awards Best Costume Design PC Williams Won
Best Scripted Casting Aisha Bywaters Won
Best Writer: Comedy Nida Manzoor Won
Best Emerging Talent: Fiction Nominated
Peabody Awards Entertainment We Are Lady Parts Won [38]
RTS Programme Awards Writer: Comedy Nida Manzoor Won [39]
Scripted Comedy We Are Lady Parts Won
Comedy Performance: Female Anjana Vasan Won
Breakthrough Award Nominated
2024
 Television Critics Association Awards Outstanding Achievement in Comedy We Are Lady Parts Nominated [40]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "We Are Lady Parts". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b Greene, Steve (21 October 2021). "'We are Lady Parts' Is an Inspired Gotham Award Nominee". IndieWire. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Nida Manzoor's award-winning, bold music comedy We Are Lady Parts recommissioned for a second series | Channel 4". www.channel4.com. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Horrible Histories Black History special wins Rose d'Or Award". British Comedy Guide. 29 November 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  5. ^ a b Lang, Jamie (24 March 2021). "Peacock Offers Sneak Peek at Punk Rock Muslim Comedy 'We Are Lady Parts' – Global Bulletin". Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  6. ^ Swarbrick, Susan (16 May 2021). "We Are Lady Parts: Channel 4's new music comedy series". The Herald. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  7. ^ Chortle (15 April 2021). "Trailer for We Are Lady Parts : Video 2021 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". Chortle. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  8. ^ a b "We Are Lady Parts – Listings Series 1". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  9. ^ "Comedy Blaps from Rose Matafeo and Nida Manzoor". Chortle. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  10. ^ Richardson, Jay (21 December 2018). "Channel 4 releases a new batch of Blaps". Chortle. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  11. ^ a b c Yates, Jonny (29 March 2021). "Brand-new Muslim punk comedy We Are Lady Parts is set to be your new obsession". PinkNews. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  12. ^ a b Baumgartner, Drew (15 April 2021). "'We Are Lady Parts' Teaser Introduces the Female-Fronted Punk Band of Peacock's Musical Comedy Series". Collider. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  13. ^ Kanter, Jake (24 March 2021). "Peacock/Channel 4 Reveal First Look At Muslim Punk Comedy 'We Are Lady Parts'". Deadline. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  14. ^ Webb, Beth (20 May 2021). "'We Are Lady Parts': the anarchic new sitcom about an all-female Muslim punk band". NME. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  15. ^ Sherwin, Adam (26 March 2021). "New Channel 4 comedy We Are Lady Parts follows the exploits of an all-female Muslim punk band". iNews. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  16. ^ a b c Ravindran, Manori (21 May 2021). "Channel 4-Peacock Series 'We Are Lady Parts,' About a Muslim Female Punk Band, Drops Soundtrack (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  17. ^ Bennett, Steve (22 November 2021). "Second series for We Are Lady Parts". Chortle. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  18. ^ "Malala Yousafzai to guest star in We Are Lady Parts Series 2". Comedy.co.uk. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  19. ^ Heritage, Stuart; Abbott, Kate (28 December 2023). "'Guaranteed to be a banger': the 50 must-see TV shows for 2024". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  20. ^ Sarrubba, Steffana (18 April 2024). "Channel 4's We Are Lady Parts shares first look at returning second season". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  21. ^ "We Are Lady Parts: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  22. ^ "We Are Lady Parts". Metacritic. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  23. ^ Seth, Radhika (14 May 2021). "'We Are Lady Parts', A Comedy Series About An All-Female Muslim Punk Band, Is About To Bring The House Down". Vogue. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  24. ^ "TV's new Muslim female punks: 'They're not having a crisis of faith'". Financial Times. 12 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  25. ^ Khan, Coco (18 May 2021). "'I can't believe someone's written this': the Muslim punk sitcom breaking new ground". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  26. ^ "We Are Lady Parts: Season 2 | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  27. ^ "We Are Lady Parts season 2". www.metacritic.com. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  28. ^ Jones, Ellen E. (30 May 2024). "We Are Lady Parts series two review – brilliant punk TV that'll leave you in tears". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  29. ^ Wilson, Benji (30 May 2024). "We Are Lady Parts, Channel 4, series 2, review: TV's raucous Muslim girl band have lost their spark". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  30. ^ Bennett, Steve (21 October 2021). "We Are Lady Parts named best comedy". Chortle. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  31. ^ "Edinburgh TV Awards 2021". Edinburgh International Television Festival. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  32. ^ "Rose d'Or 60th anniversary Lifetime, Performance and Emerging Talent Awards announced". Rose d'Or Awards. 18 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  33. ^ Pedersen, Erik (24 January 2022). "Golden Reel Awards: Sound Editors Crank Up Nominations For 69th Annual Ceremony". Deadline. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  34. ^ "CRAFT & DESIGN AWARDS 2021". Royal Television Society. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  35. ^ "Broadcast supplement". edition.pagesuite.com. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  36. ^ "Winners unveiled at National Comedy Awards for Stand Up To Cancer | Channel 4". www.channel4.com. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  37. ^ "BAFTA TV Awards 2022". 8 June 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  38. ^ "82nd Annual Peabody Nominees Announced". PeabodyAwards.com. 13 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  39. ^ "RTS Programme Awards 2022". Royal Television Society. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  40. ^ Longeretta, Emily (10 June 2024). "'Baby Reindeer', 'Ripley' and 'Shogun' Lead 2024 TCA Awards Nominations: Full List". Variety. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
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