Lucky and Meg coming back as second season of Tim Minchin’s Upright wins green light

Tim Minchin and rising Aussie actor Milly Alcock are set to reprise their roles as Lucky and Meg in a second season of the critically acclaimed Foxtel drama-comedy Upright.

Tim Minchin is excited his critically acclaimed Foxtel drama-comedy Upright has been given the green light for a second season but admits he was originally slightly sceptical at going again.

“I didn’t just want to do it because it’s a program to keep making,” he said.

“I only wanted to do it if the audience made us feel like they wanted to see more of Lucky and Meg.

“And if we could think of a really fantastic adventure with all the emotional layers of the first one.”

Minchin and the production team did come up with “something wicked again” and the eight-part second season will see the award-winning actor, musician and comedian, and rising Aussie actor Milly Alcock – who is currently filming Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragons – reprise their roles as Lucky and Meg.

Tim Minchin and Milly Alcock in a scene from the TV series Upright. Picture: Matt Nettheim/Foxtel

The misfit duo trade the desert for the steamy tropics of Far North Queensland as they hit the road – and the river – on a new mission.

Minchin’s been full of praise for his young co-star from the minute they met. And he’s super proud of her latest role.

“She can’t tell me much about it,” he said. “She’s very gagged. I text her now and then and she says it’s long days but she is having fun. It’s going to be absolutely huge for her.

“I can’t wait to see what people think of her in (House of the Dragon).”

Minchin added, with his trademark cheeky humour “ … which will not be as good as Upright obviously.”

Milly Alcock in the first trailer for Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon.

He’s looking forward to reuniting with Alcock early next year when filming starts in Queensland. Minchin is again co-writing and producing and said the scripts are already in great shape.

“I can’t wait (to get filming) – I’m so excited,” he said. “The audience reaction over the two years since (the first series) has been phenomenal. People who love it, they love it really hard and they watch it several times so that’s a good sign.

“It’s fantastic to be making Australian content in Australia.”

Tim Minchin and Milly Alcock in a scene from the TV series Upright. Supplied by Foxtel.

Before Minchin starts work on the second serving of Upright, he’s heading to the UK for his Back Encore tour.

“It’s not an amazing time to leave the kids but apart from that I can’t quite believe it,” he said.

“Matilda the Musical is back on in the West End with full audiences. I’ll be playing these big venues.

“Some of my closest friends are in London and when we left there I didn’t think I’d not be able to go back for two years.

“I’m desperate to get back and to keep working. I just want to work.”

Tim Minchin and Milly Alcock in a scene from the Foxtel drama series, Upright. Picture: Mark Rogers/Foxtel

The hugely successful first season of Upright premiered to rave reviews in Australia and overseas and took out the key comedy categories at the 2020 AACTA Awards, winning Best Comedy Series, while Tim Minchin won Best Comedy Performer.

Foxtel Executive Director of Television Brian Walsh said they were delighted to again partner with the brilliant Minchin and the team at Lingo Pictures.

“Tim Minchin’s Upright was a smash hit for Foxtel and a subsequent breakout success when it launched on Binge last summer,” Walsh said.

Originally published as Lucky and Meg coming back as second season of Tim Minchin’s Upright wins green light