My Mad Fat Diary

My Mad Fat Diaryis a Britishperiodteencomedy-dramatelevision series that debuted onE4on 14 January 2013. It is based on the novelMy Fat, Mad Teenage DiarybyRae Earl.

My Mad Fat Diary
Genre	Periodteen drama Comedy drama
Based on	My Fat, Mad Teenage Diary byRae Earl
Written by	Tom Bidwell Laura Neal George Kay
Directed by	Tim Kirkby Benjamin Caron Anthony Philipson Luke Snellin Vanessa Caswill Alex Winckler
Starring	Sharon Rooney Claire Rushbrook Ian Hart Dan Cohen Jodie Comer Nico Mirallegro
Narrated by	Sharon Rooney
Opening theme	"One to Another"byThe Charlatans
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No.of series	3
No.of episodes	16(list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Roanna Benn Jude Liknaitzky Will Gould Greg Brenman
Producers	Marianne Buckland Matthew Bouch Jules Hussey
Production locations	Stamford, Lincolnshire,England
Cinematography	David Marsh Giulio Biccari Suzie Lavelle
Editors	Tom Hemmings Adam Bosman
Running time	45 minutes
Production company	Tiger Aspect Productions Drama Republic
Original release
Network	E4
Release	14 January 2013(2013-01-14)– 6 July 2015(2015-07-06)

The second series started on 19 February 2014 and ended on 31 March 2014, with each episode posted on4oDa week prior to the television release. In November 2014, it was announced that a final three-episode third series would be made, set in 1998.

After three series and sixteen episodes,My Mad Fat Diarybroadcast its final episode on 6 July 2015.

The series was nominated for multipleBAFTAawards, withSharon Rooneywinning in 2015 for Best Drama Actress.

Plot

Set inStamford, Lincolnshirein the mid-1990s,My Mad Fat Diaryfollows the story of 16-year-old, 16stone(106kg) (233lb) girl, Rae Earl, who has just left apsychiatric hospital,where she has spent four months.She begins to reconnect with her best friend, Chloe, who is unaware of Rae'smental healthandbody imageproblems, believing she has been in France for the past four months. Rae attempts to keep this information from her while also trying to impress Chloe's friends Finn, Archie, Izzy and Chop.

Cast and characters

Main cast

• Sharon Rooneyas Rachel "Rae" Earl, a 16-year-old who has spent four months in a psychiatric hospital. She struggles to hide her mental health and body image problems from her new friends and finds it hard to fit in.
• Claire Rushbrookas Linda Earl-Bouchtat, Rae's mum.
• Ian Hartas Kester Gill, Rae's therapist who helps her deal with her issues.
• Dan Cohen as Archie, Rae's close friend.
• Jodie Comeras Chloe Gemell, Rae's attractive, popular best friend from childhood.
• Nico Mirallegroas Finley "Finn" Nelson, a boy whom Rae clashes with at first, but who later becomes her main love interest.
• Keith Allenas Victor Earl (series 2–3), Rae's father.

Recurring cast

• Jordan Murphyas Arnold "Chop" Peters, the party animal of their group of friends. He begins a relationship with Izzy at the end of series one. Initially uncomfortable with Archie's homosexuality, the two reconcile when Chop stands up for Archie when the latter gets picked on at the pub.
• Ciara Baxendaleas Izzy, the sweet but ditzy girl of the group. Often cheerful and optimistic, Rae describes her as never having a negative thought. She is in a relationship with Chop.
• Sophie Wright as Tix (series 1, 3), a resident of the psychiatric hospital and Rae's other best friend. In the series 2 opener, it is revealed that she had died due to over-exercising and refusing to eat at the end of the previous series. She makes a cameo appearance in the final episode of series 3 as Rae reflects on her teenage years and when Rae sees everyone in the reflection of the train window.
• Darren Evans as Danny Two Hats, a resident of the psychiatric hospital and later, due to the death of Tix at the end of series one, Rae's friend.
• Bamshad Abedi-Amin as Karim Bouchtat, the Tunisian undocumented immigrant boyfriend, and later husband, of Rae's mum.
• Shazad Latifas Nick Kassar (series 1), a doctor at the psychiatric hospital.
• Eliot Otis Brown Waltersas Big G (series 1–2), a bully who often picks on Rae, calling herJabba.
• Cameron Moore as Stephen Carrisford (series 1–2), a PE Teacher in Rae's school.
• Sacha Parkinsonas Stacey Stringfellow (series 2), a popular girl who used to date Finn and bullies other girls.
• Susie Potter as Amy Malone (series 2), a tough girl in Stacey's clique. She falls out with Stacey after she says she looked 'proper rough'. She later ends up dating Liam and even threatens Rae whenever she sees her with Liam.
• Jodie Hamblet as Vicky (series 2), a popular girl in Stacey's clique. She has a skin condition, although she dislikes talking about it. She later becomes an enemy of Rae and Chloe, regularly insulting them at school.
• Kirsty Armstrong as Lois (series 2–3), a sweet girl in Stacey's clique. She is revealed to be Archie's "girlfriend". After Rae "outs" Archie to Lois, she threatens to tell her friends that Archie is gay if he doesn't tell everyone first.
• Turlough Converyas Liam Owen (series 2–3), Rae's new friend/love interest who attends group therapy with her in Series 2. He makes a cameo appearance in the final episode of series 3 when Rae sees everyone in the reflection of the train window.
• Sophie Stantonas Principal Dixon (series 2–3), Rae’s firm but fair headteacher at college who gives her several ‘second chances’ and encourages her to go toBristol University.
• Tony Pittsas Chloe’s dad (series 2–3).
• Debra Stephensonas Chloe’s mum (series 2–3).
• Faye Marsayas Katie Springer (series 3), a former student at Rae's school who comes back to Stamford to speak about her experiences at university.
• Karl Daviesas Rob (series 3), Rae's boss in a record shop and Archie's lover.
• Lolita Chakrabartias Dr Juliet Allen (series 3), Kester’s replacement.

Episodes

Main article:List of My Mad Fat Diary episodes

Series	Episodes		Originally aired
			First aired	Last aired
1	6		14 January 2013(2013-01-14)	18 February 2013(2013-02-18)
2	7		17 February 2014(2014-02-17)	31 March 2014(2014-03-31)
3	3		22 June 2015(2015-06-22)	6 July 2015(2015-07-06)

Critical reception

Throughout its run,My Mad Fat Diaryreceived critical acclaim, particularly for its accurate and honest portrayal of mental illness and Sharon Rooney's performance.The Guardian'sSam Wollaston called it a "lovely drama – honest and painful, real, and very funny," going on to say "Sharon Rooney's performance in the lead is natural, effortless and utterly believable; she should win something for it."The Stagecalled it "a comedy drama that actually satisfies the criteria of both genres,My Mad Fat Diaryoffers a unique and uncompromising perspective on adolescent angst that distresses and delights by turns. Visual gimmicks – flashbacks, fantasies and animated squiggles leaping from the page – are used sparingly but effectively, allowing the focus to stay fixed on Rae and Rooney’s commanding and engagingly natural central performance. "The Art Desksaid "the first episode of this six-part comedy drama is touching, hilarious and perfectly cast." Claire Webb of theRadio Timessaid the plot is "as uplifting as it is moving, although the banter and gimmicks won't be to everybody's taste."

The show also received praise for its honest portrayal of mental health. Brian Semple ofThe Independentcalls the show "surprisingly honest, funny and even moving account of what it’s like for a teenage girl to live with serious mental health problems, free of many of the clichés that often inform how mental illness is portrayed on TV," going on to say that Rae "has a mental illness, but it doesn't define her. It's just something that she has to deal with and try to manage on a daily basis, just like the one in ten young people in the UK who have a mental illness." Semple refers toMy Mad Fat Diaryas a "breath of fresh air and will do a lot to change the way young people think about mental health."The mental health charityMindhonoured the show in their annual Media Awards in the Drama category in 2014and 2016.

In a more mixed review, Robert Epstein ofThe Independentcriticised E4 for relating the program to its other teen shows: "If such comparisons are unfair, blame it on E4, whose continuity announcer declared: 'If you likeSkins,The InbetweenersandMisfits,you'll like this.' Well, sorry, I do like those three shows, but, even with a great soundtrack (if only the Mack really would return…) and the odd nice line,My Mad Fat Diaryis a long way from the equal of that trio in invention, edge or humour. "

My Mad Fat Diarystar Sharon Rooney was chosen as one of the first group ofBAFTA"Breakthrough Brits" in 2013.

Ratings

The first episode of the third and final series attracted 548,000 viewers onE4,whilst the second episode attracted 537,000 viewers. The final episode of the series attracted 450,000 viewers. All viewing figures exclude those who watched onAll 4and on E4+1.

American remake

Tom Bidwell,the writer of the show, mentioned in April 2014 in an interview with theChorley GuardianthatMTVhas commissioned him to work on an American remake of the show.

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Recipient	Result
2013	British Academy Scotland Awards	Best Actor/Actress - Television	Sharon Rooney	Nominated
2014	British Academy Television Awards	Best Drama Series	My Mad Fat Diary	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actress	Claire Rushbrook	Nominated
	British Academy Scotland Awards	Best Actress - Television	Sharon Rooney	Nominated
	Broadcasting Press Guild Awards	Breakthrough Award		Nominated
	Mind Media Awards	Drama	My Mad Fat Diary	Won
	Royal Television Society Awards	Best Drama Series		Nominated
		Best Actress	Sharon Rooney	Nominated
2015	British Academy Scotland Awards	Best Actress - Television		Won
	International Emmy Awards	Drama Series	My Mad Fat Diary	Nominated
2016	Mind Media Awards	Drama		Won

External links

• My Mad Fat DiaryatChannel 4
• My Mad Fat DiaryatIMDb