Holyrood Studios confirm long-rumoured sequel ‘IndyRef 2: This Time It’s Serious’

It was one of the worst-kept secrets in Holyrood, but today producer and star Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that plans for a sequel to IndyRef were underway.

The first IndyRef was released in September 2014 to record numbers, breaking all-time records for audience turnout, but proved to be divisive, with 45% giving it the thumbs-up and more than half saying 'no, thank you'. But after the blockbuster Brexit: The Referendum hit the UK like thermonuclear warhead, Holyrood executives have decided to give IndyRef another outing. Titled IndyRef 2: This Time It's Serious, the sequel is slated for a Spring 2019 release, with the tagline "A Once In A Generation Opportunity - Again".   In a statement released by Holyrood Studios, Sturgeon said: "The response to the first IndyRef, followed by the unexpected popularity of Brexit, gave us the confidence to pursue a sequel. "We're working on it now and expect the follow-up to be the success that we all hoped the first IndyRef would be. "This is a fantastic opportunity and we can't wait to share it with you all." She added that there were currently no plans to turn IndyRef into a trilogy, but didn't rule out future expansion into a franchise. Confirmation of the sequel had been teased since June last year, with some fans no doubt relieved and excited to see a new IndyRef. However, news of the follow-up was not met with universal enthusiasm.

Photo: Carl Court/Getty Images

Executive of rival studio Westminster Theresa May said that the public "has no appetite for a sequel to IndyRef" and that "the numbers speak for themselves - the public were offered the first IndyRef and the public didn't want it." Star of the successful Backstabber franchise and executive producer of Brexit: The Referendum Michael Gove said: "Brexit was a phenomenal hit. "All the so-called experts said it would flop, but it has gone on to become the single most-definitive piece of British culture since Elgar's Enigma Variations. "For the heads of Holyrood to try and have another bite at the cherry is unbecoming of a once great institution. "It's greedy, and I would know about that."

Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Semi-prominent industry figure Jeremy Corbyn was approached for comment, but instead mumbled something about unions and shuffled off into his allotment. IndyRef 2: This Time It's Serious is a Holyrood Studios production, slated for release in Scotland Spring 2019