Just Act Normal
Three siblings cope after their mother disappears.
Just Act Normal is a British comedy-drama series that aired on BBC Three from 16 April 2025. Adapted by Janice Okoh from her own stage play *Three Birds*, the show follows three siblings whose mother, Jackie, goes missing. The cast includes Chenée Taylor, Kaydrah Walker-Wilkie, Akins Subair, Romola Garai, and Sam Buchanan.
The six-episode series marks the first television roles for Taylor, Walker-Wilkie, and Subair, who play the siblings Tiana, Tanika, and Tionne. Other cast members include Romola Garai as Ms Jenkins, Sam Buchanan as Dr Feelgood, Talitha Wing as Rome, Ivanno Jeremiah as Leo, and singer Jamelia as Fake Jackie, with a guest appearance by Jennifer Metcalfe as Candy. The production was handled by The Forge Entertainment and was originally titled *We Go Again*. Nathaniel Martello-White directed, and filming took place in Birmingham and Coventry in June 2024. The setting was moved from the original play’s South London to Birmingham.
Critics responded positively. Lucy Mangan of *The Guardian* gave a five-star review, calling the show “heartbreaking, hugely funny, endlessly subtle … incredible TV” and praising the young cast as “exceptional.” Morgan Cormack of *RadioTimes.com* noted that “levity, comedy and charm [were] delivered flawlessly through three newcomer leads.” Walker-Wilkie received a nomination for the Breakthrough Award at the 2026 Royal Television Society Programme Awards.
- type
- Television series
- genre
- Comedy drama
- premiered
- 16 April 2025
- network
- BBC Three
- creator
- Janice Okoh
- based_on
- Stage play Three Birds (2013)
- episodes
- 6
Lore & Background
The series is adapted by Janice Okoh from her own stage play Three Birds, which premiered in 2013. The setting has been moved from South London to Birmingham. The series is directed by Nathaniel Martello-White. The series is from producers The Forge Entertainment, as was originally titled as We Go Again.
The six-part series is the first television roles for the three lead actors: Chenée Taylor (who plays Tiana), Kaydrah Walker-Wilkie (Tanika) and Akins Subair (Tionne), but also includes Romola Garai, Sam Buchanan, Talitha Wing, Ivanno Jeremiah and Jamelia, with a guest role for Jennifer Metcalfe. Filming took place in Birmingham and Coventry in June 2024.
Reader's Guide
Just Act Normal is a British comedy drama that premiered on BBC Three in April 2025. Adapted by Janice Okoh from her own stage play Three Birds, the series follows three siblings—Tiana, Tanika, and Tionne—as they cope with life after their mother Jackie disappears. The show moved its setting from South London to Birmingham and was directed by Nathaniel Martello-White. It marked the first television roles for its three lead actors, Chenée Taylor, Kaydrah Walker-Wilkie, and Akins Subair. The series received positive reviews, with critics praising the performances of the newcomer leads. Walker-Wilkie was nominated for the Breakthrough Award at the 2026 Royal Television Society Programme Awards.
Did You Know?
- The series is adapted by Janice Okoh from her own stage play Three Birds, which originally premiered in 2013.
- The setting was moved from South London to Birmingham for the television adaptation.
- The series was originally titled We Go Again.
- Filming took place in Birmingham and Coventry in June 2024.
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