My Mad Fat Diary to return in February

The second series sees Rae Earl return to the daunting prospect of college

Actress Sharon Rooney who plays Rae Earl in 'My Mad Fat Diary' (Channel 4)

The acclaimed drama My Mad Fat Diary will return for a second series in the new year, starring Bafta-nominated Sharon Rooney as the show’s doomed protagnoist Rae Earl.

Life is unpredictable as ever for Rae who, having revealed the truth about her mental health to her friends, must now face the daunting prospect of college.

Determined to put her days on the psychiatric ward behind her, Rae is hoping college could prove a fresh start. But the thought of starting somewhere new surrounded by cool girls terrifies her.

Rae also finds herself in scary new territory with the object of her lust, Finn, who hints he might be interested in being more than just friends with her.

At home, Rae’s Mum has married toyboy Karim and she’s acting all the more irrational for it.

Set in the Nineties at the height of Britpop, My Mad Fat Diary won praise from the likes of Caitlin Moran and Sarah Millican for its honest and sometimes painful portrayal of adolescence.

The successful drama, based on the real-life teenage diaries of author Rae Earl, pulled in an average total audience of 1.2 million per episode in its first series earlier this year.

My Mad Fat Diary returns to E4 in February 2014