Ted Lasso star Ambreen Razia, Expectation pair for comedy drama Wasted

Ambreen Razia starred in US hit Ted Lasso

British Asian actor and writer Ambreen Razia has secured a development deal with Expectation Entertainment (In My Skin, Alma’s Not Normal) to write an original comedy drama about addiction and post-partum depression between a South Asian mother and her daughter.

The series, which has the working title Wasted, will follow the story of a junior doctor and the ancestral legacy that looms over today’s generation of Muslim immigrants.

Razia (The Curse, Murdered by My Father) has recently been seen on screen as Shandy in Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso.

Regarding Wasted, Razia said: “The show lifts the lid on the Muslim women that society refuses to acknowledge and uncovers a very personal and specific experience that we have yet to see on screen.

“The series will contend with existing cultural and religious attitudes alongside the general expectations of womanhood. As a British Pakistani girl growing up in London, my experience bears little resemblance to what I’ve seen depicted on British television.”

Morwenna Gordon

Morwenna Gordon, exec producer at Expectation Entertainment, added: “We’re thrilled to be working with Ambreen on this project – she’s a huge talent, on screen and off, and infectiously passionate about bringing to life the lives of British Muslim women who have yet to be celebrated on TV.”

Razia’s previous writing credits include Hounslow Diaries for BBC Three, which was adapted from stage play Diary of a Hounslow Girl – a project that looked at the lives of modern Muslim girls in London. She has also been part of the writers’ room for We Are Lady Parts (Channel 4) and Disney+ show Extraordinary.

Expectation launched in February 2017 as a multi-genre, independent production company covering both scripted and non-scripted programming led by Peter Fincham and Tim Hincks.

The company’s creative director for scripted, Nerys Evans, oversees a slate that includes Alma’s Not Normal for BBC Two, In My Skin for BBC Three, as well as dark comedy drama Guilt (with Happy Tramp) for BBC Two and BBC Scotland. Expectation has also produced two seasons of comedy Intelligence for Sky with a special to follow this Spring.