Dawn French is back as domineering grandma Debbie as filming begins for the second series of her hit BBC drama Can you keep a secret?
The 68-year-old star was seen shooting scenes in Axbridge, Somerset, on Wednesday, alongside co-stars Craig Roberts and Mandip Gill.
Wearing a red polka dot dress and gold shoes, Dawn was clearly delighted to be reunited with the cast and laughed with her on-screen son Craig before sharing a hug with a child actor.
Dawn later changed into a blue floral print dress, teamed with bright red shoes and matching accessories panty for another scene in the city.
The first series of Can You Keep a Secret became the third biggest comedy launch on BBC iPlayer since 2024, with an audience of 3.3 million when it started streaming in January.
A month later it was confirmed that Dawn and co would be back for series two.
Dawn plays Debbie who loses her reclusive husband William (Mark Heap) and makes a reckless decision to secure her family’s future.
Dawn French is back as domineering grandma Debbie as filming begins on the second series of her hit BBC drama Can You Keep a Secret?
Clearly delighted to be reunited with the cast, Dawn, dressed in a red polka dot dress and gold shoes, shared a laugh with her on-screen son Craig
However, as the story, which is loosely based on the disappearance case of John Darwin, plays out, it is revealed that William is not dead. He hides in the attic while the couple waits for the life insurance payout.
The elaborate plan shocks their son Harold (Craig Roberts), whose wife, Neha (Mandip Gill), is a local police officer.
Dawn cheered when the second series was announced that she was ‘as delighted as a real chuff’, adding that it was ‘more opportunity for Debbie to put on her bossy boots and cause even more chaos… hurrah’.
It’s been a busy year for the comedy legend who also released her fifth book Enough in May.
The novel centers on Etta, a mentally and physically fit grandmother who has gathered her family to announce that it will be her last day on earth.
As she approaches her 69th birthday in October, Dawn has decided she isn’t afraid of that explore the ‘big, scary things’.
She told Bella magazine in an interview earlier this year: “I set myself the challenge of talking about big, scary things, but still injecting some kind of hope into it.”
“I tried a life-affirming book about death.”
Dawn later changed into a blue floral print dress, paired with bright red shoes and matching tights for another scene in the city
The first series of Can You Keep a Secret became the third biggest comedy launch on BBC iPlayer since 2024, with an audience of 3.3 million when it started streaming in January
‘I’m 68, but not yet at the end of my life. I just think at this age you start to think about things to come. It’s important to write about things you’re afraid of.
‘I lost my mother at the age of 77 and watched my friends fall off the couch at 70. I would like to still go at 107.”
