It's not every cosy story of British people doing something that scores a sequel, but Fisherman's Friends is joining that rank. Fisherman's Friends 2 has just kicked off shooting, adding Richard Harrington, Ramon Tikaram, Joshua Maguire and Irish singer-songwriter Imelda May in her debut film role, to the cast.
The first film, of course, charted the unlikely but real-life story of a group of Cornish guard/lifeboat workers who, moonlighting as a sea shanty-singing a cappella group, got signed by Universal and made a debut album that reached the top ten. Writers of the original Meg Leonard and Nick Moorcroft this time step up to co-direct from their screenplay, co-written by Piers Ashworth.
Fisherman's Friends 2 continues the journey with the loveable "buoy band", as they navigate the choppy waters of fame, second album syndrome, and performing on the pyramid stage at Glastonbury. James Purefoy is back as Jim, alongside fellow veterans including Maggie Steed, Dave Johns, Sam Swainsbury, Jade Anouka and David Hayman.
Cameras are now rolling in Cornwall, but we don't have a release date on the hook just yet.