Sophie Willan turned a tough start into three BAFTAs and a baby announcement all in one year. The creator and star of Alma’s Not Normal announced in May 2025 that she is expecting a baby boy — just days after winning another BAFTA for her show.
Born: 21 October 1987 ·
Birthplace: Bolton, England ·
Occupation: Actress, comedian, writer ·
BAFTAs won: 3 ·
Known for: Alma’s Not Normal ·
Announced pregnancy: 2025
Quick snapshot
- 2025: BAFTA win + pregnancy announcement + birth of son Elijah (Yahoo News UK)
- Motherhood and possible new comedy projects – no official announcements yet
Here’s the breakdown of what we know for sure.
| Full Name | Sophie Willan |
| Date of Birth | 21 October 1987 |
| Place of Birth | Bolton, England |
| Occupation | Actress, comedian, writer, narrator |
| Notable Works | Alma’s Not Normal, Taskmaster, Ludwig |
| BAFTA Awards | 3 |
| Partner (current) | Carniel Francis Levy |
| Children | 1 (Elijah, born November 2025) |
Has Sophie Willan had a baby?
Sophie Willan’s pregnancy announcement (2025)
- Announced via Instagram on 18 May 2025 with ultrasound photos – caption: “WE’RE HAVING A BABY BOY! Coming November 2025.” (British Comedy Guide)
- The announcement came days after she won the BAFTA TV Award for Scripted Comedy for Alma’s Not Normal (Chortle)
Willan wrote in her Instagram bio: “Big titted ginger Northerner 3 BAFTAs & a baby.” The post also included the playful phrase “Plot twist…” according to The Bolton News.
Baby news from Chortle and birth updates
- Chortle reported that she was pregnant with a baby boy due in November 2025 (Chortle)
- Later coverage from Yahoo News UK confirmed the baby, named Elijah, was born on 30 November 2025 (Yahoo News UK)
“Sophie Willan has announced she is going to be a mother.”
— Chortle, May 2025
Sophie Willan’s pregnancy announcement hit a week after her BAFTA win, creating a rare double moment of professional and personal celebration. For fans, it clarifies that she is indeed starting a family with partner Carniel Francis Levy, not Jonny Pelham as earlier rumours suggested.
Is Sophie Willan in a relationship?
Partner speculation and known relationships
- Coverage of the pregnancy identified her partner as chef Carniel Francis Levy (Chortle)
- The same partner appeared in the Instagram post – a photo with Willan has not been widely published, but the caption referred to “our first” (Yahoo News UK)
- No official public statement from Willan about her relationship status beyond the pregnancy news
Willan has kept her private life relatively low-key. Unlike many performers, she rarely posts about relationships, making the pregnancy reveal a significant exception.
Rumored partner: Jonny Pelham
- Earlier speculation linked her to fellow comedian Jonny Pelham, but neither confirmed the relationship (Wikipedia)
- Current evidence points to Carniel Francis Levy as the partner and father of her child
Is Sophie Willan still with Jonny Pelham?
History with Jonny Pelham
- Both are comedians who have been linked romantically in media chatter
- Neither has ever publicly confirmed a relationship
- No joint public appearances have been reported since 2023
Given that the pregnancy announcement includes a different partner, the likely answer is no – if there was a past connection, it is not current. Willan has not addressed this directly.
Current status unclear
- Willan’s social media does not contain any references to Pelham
- The confirmed partner in official coverage is Carniel Francis Levy (Yahoo News UK)
“Sophie Willan gave birth to a baby boy named Elijah on 30 November 2025.”
— Yahoo News UK
How did Sophie Willan get famous?
Early career and stand-up comedy
- Began performing stand-up comedy in Manchester in the 2010s (Wikipedia)
- Built a reputation for autobiographical material about growing up in the care system
- Won the BBC New Comedy Award in 2016
Her breakthrough came with Alma’s Not Normal, a semi-autobiographical series she wrote and stars in. The show premiered on BBC Two in 2020 and quickly earned critical acclaim.
Breakthrough with Alma’s Not Normal and BAFTA wins
- First series aired on BBC Two in 2020
- Won BAFTA for Best Scripted Comedy in 2021 (BAFTA)
- Additional BAFTA wins in 2022 for Female Performance in a Comedy and Comedy Writing
- Alma’s Not Normal won Scripted Comedy again at the 2025 BAFTA TV Awards (Sky News)
Who is Sophie Willan?
Biographical overview
- Born 21 October 1987 in Bolton, England
- Spent part of her childhood in the care system, which she has openly discussed in her comedy
- English actress, presenter, narrator, writer and comedian
Willan’s personal background deeply informs her work. Her experience in care is a recurring theme in Alma’s Not Normal and her stand-up, giving her a distinctive voice in British comedy (Wikipedia).
Key achievements
- Three BAFTA wins (Scripted Comedy, Female Performance, Writing)
- Appeared on Taskmaster Series 16 (2023) and Ludwig
- Narrates and voices characters in documentaries and animated series
- Her Instagram bio: “Big titted ginger Northerner 3 BAFTAs & a baby”
“Big titted ginger Northerner 3 BAFTAs & a baby.”
— Sophie Willan’s Instagram bio
Sophie Willan’s story — from care leaver to three-time BAFTA winner to new mother — challenges easy narratives about who gets to succeed in British comedy. For young comedians from similar backgrounds, her path shows that autobiographical material can achieve both critical and commercial success.
Sophie Willan timeline
| 21 October 1987 | Born in Bolton, England |
| 2010s | Built reputation as stand-up comedian in Manchester |
| 2020 | Alma’s Not Normal first series airs on BBC Two |
| 2021 | Wins BAFTA for Best Scripted Comedy |
| 2022 | Wins additional BAFTA awards for performance and writing |
| 2023 | Appears on Taskmaster Series 16 |
| May 2025 | Announces pregnancy; Alma’s Not Normal wins Scripted Comedy at BAFTA TV Awards |
| 30 November 2025 | Gives birth to son Elijah |
Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Born 21 October 1987 in Bolton, England (Wikipedia)
- Three BAFTA wins for Alma’s Not Normal (BAFTA)
- Announced pregnancy in May 2025 (Chortle)
- Son Elijah born 30 November 2025 (Yahoo News UK)
- Partner is chef Carniel Francis Levy (Chortle)
- Instagram bio: “3 BAFTAs & a baby”
What’s unclear
- Whether she is married or plans to marry
- Future TV or comedy projects beyond 2025
- Exact relationship timeline with Carniel Francis Levy
- Whether she has any ties to Jonny Pelham
Related reading: Eddie Izzard: Gender, Career, and Life Story · Joe Wilkinson: Family, Career, and Friendship with Katherine Ryan
youtube.com, chortle.co.uk, bbc.co.uk, popculture.com, theboltonnews.co.uk, sakuratimes.tokyo
Frequently asked questions
What is Sophie Willan’s net worth?
No reliable public figures are available. As a BAFTA-winning writer and performer with a BBC series, her income is likely substantial but not disclosed.
Did Sophie Willan appear on Taskmaster?
Yes, she competed in Series 16 of Taskmaster (2023), alongside Julian Clary, Lucy Beaumont, Sam Campbell and Sue Perkins.
What is Sophie Willan’s next project?
No official announcement has been made. Given her recent motherhood and the success of Alma’s Not Normal, a new series or special is likely but not confirmed.
Is Sophie Willan married?
No public marriage announcement has been made. Her partner is Carniel Francis Levy, but marital status is unknown.
Where did Sophie Willan grow up?
She grew up in Bolton, England, and spent time in the care system as a child – a experience she has discussed openly in interviews.
What is the name of Sophie Willan’s baby?
Her son is named Elijah, born 30 November 2025, according to Yahoo News UK.
How many BAFTAs has Sophie Willan won?
Three BAFTA TV Awards: one for Best Scripted Comedy (2021), one for Female Performance in a Comedy (2022), and one for Writing (2022). Alma’s Not Normal also won Scripted Comedy in 2025, credited to the production team.
For Sophie Willan, the choice is clear: her new role as a mother will likely shape her creative output, but her track record suggests she can turn personal upheaval into compelling comedy. Fans waiting for a new series may have to be patient – but if history is any guide, the wait will be worth it.
Henry William Bennett Murray is a staff writer for CivicInsight.uk, covering UK public affairs, policy and civic life. He works under Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Langford, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.