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Drop Dead Gorgeous, the comedy following Runcorn school girl model Ashley Webb (Sinead Moynihan), returns to BBC Three for a second series on Sunday, 16 September.

Set in Runcorn the first series followed the Webb family as their lives changed when one of two twin sisters, Ashley is approached by a modelling agency.

As Ashley’s career takes off her twin sister Jade (Linzey Cocker) became increasingly jealous while mother Pauline (Kathyrn Hunt) dropped everything to help Ashley pursue her dream leaving husband Terry (Connor McIntyre) floundering.

Filming takes place in Runcorn

Drop Dead Gorgeous is the latest BBC series to be filmed in Runcorn following on from Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, and Merseybeat.

The landmark Silver Jubilee bridge also featured in the final scene of Alan Bleasdale's Channel Four series, GBH, when Michael Palin's character Jim Nelson drove across it having conquered his fear of crossing bridges.

Producer Juliet Charlesworth says the second series of Drop Dead Gorgeous contains more glamour than ever, “In this series the Webb family find themselves on the way up. New House, new clothes, Paris, Milan you name it.

“Our great joy this series was costume, and how much fun we had dressing the cast.”

Windswept

Filming in Runcorn began in March with a glitzy wedding, which was almost ruined by the weather coming in off the Mersey.

“The wind was so bad we had to ban the use of wraps and hats, and ended up having to cut some exterior scenes because you could see the actors’ teeth chattering and tears rolling down their cheeks as they were wind whipped,” says Juliet Charlesworth.

Sinead Moynihan plays Ashley Webb

“We were in the midst of a series of very long night shoots in Runcorn – which culminated in a huge and massively important argument between Pauline and Terry.

“There we were, in the depth of the night, rain lashing down and no shelter to be found. Kate Hunt who plays Pauline and Connor who plays Terry offered to do the scene for real on the promenade in the rain – which by now had actually reached typhoon status in Runcorn – and yes our Dubbing Editor did tell me how good the rain machine looked when he saw the final version.”

Sarah Jayne Dunn, who played Mandy in Hollyoaks, joins the Drop Dead Gorgeous cast for the second series, as bitchy model agency receptionist Justine.

“It was just great to come onto something that I’d heard so much about,” says Sarah.

“Justine is a fantastic part to play as she is totally new to the show and didn’t have any baggage, which meant I could put my stamp on the character. We got to wear great clothes and the relationship I had with Pauline, who was effectively my boss, was hysterical.”

Drop Dead Gorgeous is on BBC Three Sunday evenings at 9pm.