Sharon Horgan’s comedy series Youth will return for a second season on HBO. The renewal was announced a day after the first season’s finale, which left Horgan’s character, Alex, at a turning point in both her personal and professional life. A date for the next season has not been announced.
Horgan created the series and stars as Alex, a divorced 50-year-old trying to put her romantic life back on track while keeping her career moving forward. Alex is also raising a teenage son, played by Aran Murphy, who is struggling with the transition toward young adulthood.
Those overlapping concerns form the premise of the comedy, with Alex navigating her own relationships and work alongside her son’s difficulties. The first season consisted of eight episodes, concluding with its central character facing decisions across the personal and professional sides of her life.
In a statement welcoming the renewal, Horgan expressed enthusiasm about continuing the series and returning to its cast and creative team. She also described the response to Youth as exceeding her expectations, saying she was grateful both for that reception and for the opportunity to work with the group again.
Horgan’s statement included a joke about the material she brings to the show: “I’m so happy to get another opportunity to live out my emotional and biological crises on HBO.” She added: “I can’t think of a better platform to air my UTI problems on.”
Amy Gravitt, executive vice president of HBO Programming and head of comedy series for HBO and HBO Max, praised Horgan’s ability to combine humor and emotion. Gravitt said the show could provoke laughter and tears in the same moment, and singled out the ensemble’s performances in welcoming another season alongside production partner Merman.
Rupert Friend, Sharlene Whyte and Robbie Gee also star in Youth. In addition to creating the comedy and playing its lead character, Horgan serves as a writer and executive producer. Her work on the series spans responsibilities both in front of and behind the camera.
The other executive producers are Faye Dorn of Horgan’s company Merman, Jim Kleverweis and Dawn Shadforth. Directing duties for the first season were divided equally: Shadforth directed four episodes, with Jim O’Hanlon directing the remaining four.
