Damned, the sharp black comedy based around the lives of two jaded social workers, will be returning for a second six part series later this year.

Produced by What Larks for Channel 4 and Lionsgate International, Damned is a sharply written, warmly comical and frequently poignant observation on what it means to try your best amidst the most frustrating of circumstances.

Created by Jo Brand (Getting On) and Morwenna Banks (Miss You Already) and written by Jo Brand, Morwenna Banks and Will Smith (Veep, The Thick of It) the second series returns to Elm Heath Social Services where much has changed… but quite a lot hasn’t.

In a post-Brexit world, defined by a new government and legislation that no one can really fathom, Rose (Jo Brand - Getting On, Going Forward) remains as irritable, chaotic and resentful as ever as she tries to juggle home, work, family and her far-too-present ex-husband. Meanwhile Al (Alan Davies - Jonathan Creek), apathetically trying to surf a mid-life crisis, considers pastures new to inject some much needed excitement, and a new challenge, into his life.

Martin (Kevin Eldon - Game of Thrones, Nighty Night) is back full time and this time round he’s in charge so things might be about to change - but ever so kindly and slowly cause he’s a nice bloke. But will his new position of power bring out some unseemly dictatorial traits?

Crises pile up as crucial files appear to have taken a walk so Nat (Isy Suttie - Peep Show), now a permanent member of the team, turns detective to track them down while Denise (Georgie Glen - Waterloo Road) lets her beady eye slide off the ball as her attention turns inward to her own family issues. Nitin (Himesh Patel - EastEnders) remains his reliable and pompous self, a beacon of the officious in a sea of corner cutting, whilst Ingrid (Morwenna Banks - Skins, The Thick of It) becomes the bridge between the personal and the professional as she takes on a huge challenge.

And that’s just the staff, as they say, before they’ve even begun to tackle the complex and brutal problems out there in the community. The threat of violence is never far away as the Elm Heath team once again face up to a series of problems that our increasingly complex society just expects them to sort out without any fuss or acknowledgement.

Jo Brand says: “I’m looking forward to letting myself back in to the Elm Heath Childrens' Services office and catching up with the staff. It’s one of my favourite alternative worlds to be in and I think there are going to be quite a few unsettling challenges for our team. Well I know there are, because I’m writing some of them!”

Nerys Evans, Deputy Head of Comedy at Channel 4, says: “With their unique, bittersweet take on front line social workers, we can’t wait to welcome Jo, Morwenna, Will and the team back to Channel 4 to hear more about what trials and tribulations they have in store for their much-loved characters.”

Claire Whalley, producer, says: “We are absolutely delighted that Channel 4 and Lionsgate have decided to go for a second series of Damned. With its factually based stories and sharper than sharp writers, it promises to be an even grittier and funnier series than before emerging out of a very authentic world.”

Zygi Kamasa, CEO of Lionsgate’s European Office and Lionsgate Television Group Chairman Kevin Beggs jointly commented: “It’s great to continue our partnership with Channel 4 and What Larks for series two of this topical and timely comedy. The response has been tremendous and we expect the show to continue to resonate with audiences for a long time.”

DAMNED was commissioned by Phil Clarke, Head of Scripted at Channel 4 and Nerys Evans, Deputy Head of Comedy at Channel 4. Produced by What Larks Productions, the executive producer is Claire Whalley (Brilliantman!, Alan Davies in Search of Houdini). Lionsgate International UK will sell rights worldwide.