A second series of the Bafta award-winning comedy My Life as a Popat will return to Children's ITV this April, the broadcaster has confirmed.

Starring Shobha (Shaheen Khan) and Ramesh (Kulvinder Ghir) as young Anand Popat's parents, the comedy continues to revolve around the antics of the whole family.

Anand is played by 16 year-old Sonny Gill, who got his initial acting break on the first series after being chosen from a cast of over a 1000 boys. He has since performed in the film Mistress of Spices and on stage.

16 year-old Chandeep Uppal stars as Anand's sister Dimple Popat, playing the spoiled and materialistic diva intent on winding her parents and adoring boyfriend Milan around her little finger. She was previously the lead in Meera Syal’s film Anita and Me.

Her boyfriend Milan is played by Sonnell Dadral, who appeared recently in feature films Syriana and Shaun Of The Dead, and on TV in White Teeth and Second Generation.

The present series also stars 11 year-olds James Gandhi as Chetan Popat and Majeevan Grewal as Milli Patel. The latter was discovered through ITV Children’s Workshops. This is her first TV role. Another new addition is 15 year-old Yasmin Paige, who stars as Anand's friend Lucy.

Laurence Bowen, executive producer and co-founder of Feelgood Fiction, said: "In this show there is the highest concentration of new and established Asian talent of any show in British TV. Drawing together actors and writers from Bend It Like Beckham, Goodness Gracious me, Grease Monkeys, Anita and Me, Syriana, White Teeth and Second Generation."



After winning a Fringe First Award for their first play BBA and Proud, Manoj and Maria Raithatha were commissioned to write the first series of My Life as a Popat by Feelgood Fiction.

In the second series they are joined as writers by Harwant Baines (the creator of Grease Monkeys), Sanjeev Kohli (co-creator of Goodness Gracious Me) and first timer Khurram Longi (winner of the TAPS best newcomer award).

In last years Broadcast Creativity Awards the first series of My Life As a Popat was voted the 7th most creative show from ITV and 2nd most creative Children’s show overall.

The second series will feature eight episode. CITV has uploaded a teaser trailer to YouTube that can be seen here. It begins in April.

Media contact: Tim West on 0207 737 8838 / Tim.West@itv.com.