Daily Mail: BBC announces Motherland spin-off Amandaland

Story from Daily Mail:

Motherland fans can rejoice as the BBC has revealed that a spin-off focused on the pretentious - and newly-divorced - Amanda will hit screens later this year.

Titled Amandaland, the series, will focus on Lucy Punch's character - and her dramatic fall from grace - as she navigates her single status, acid-tongued mother and the challenges of raising two teenagers.

The news will no doubt be welcome for fans as it comes 18 months after the last episode of Motherland hit screens in December 2022, and two months after Diane Morgan confirmed the comedy would not return.

Post her divorce, Amanda has had to downsize and up sticks to South Harlesden, or as the Estate Agent calls it SoHa (definitely not the area around Wormwood Scrubs prison).

With both Manus and Georgie now at secondary school, Amanda has to try and get her head around raising teenagers, dealing with modern motherhood horrors like teenage drinking, fake Instagram accounts and eco anxiety.

But not even a woman as certain of her parenting as Amanda can deal with these nightmares alone.

Then there's Amanda's mother Felicity (Joanna Lumley) who is constantly around, and completely in denial that she is, in fact, lonely.

Theirs is a slightly unhealthy co-dependent relationship based on backhanded compliments and veiled snipes about her new home.

After a brief spell of freedom, Anne (Philippa Dunne) is sucked back into being Amanda's minion to help her navigate the social scene with the other parents at the children's new school.

The series is expected to air on the BBC later this year, with further casting to be announced in due course.

Tanya Qureshi, Head of Comedy at the BBC says: 'Motherland continues to be one of the most loved comedies on the BBC, and we're so pleased we are carrying on with the story, taking the characters in a new direction and to a different postcode.

'Lucy, Joanna and Phillipa are three of the funniest comedy actors around and we're thrilled to have them on board.'

Sharon Horgan, Co-Founder of Merman says: 'We're delighted to be working with the BBC and with this incredible cast.

'Motherland took off in a way that none of us were expecting and it's just so exciting that we get to continue to make this next chapter of parenthood and friendship.

'We have new parents, a new school and new problems to look forward to. We can't wait to get going on it'.

Clelia Mountford, Co-Founder of Merman says: 'We're delighted to be bringing Amandaland to the BBC and to share the next chapter of Amanda's story.

'Viewers are in for a treat! It's been so rewarding seeing how the complexity of Amanda's character has developed; the relationship with her mother, life as a single parent and her fledgling career.

'It's a joy to be working with such incredible comedy talent such as Lucy, Joanna and Phillipa once more.'

Agapy Kapouranis, Lionsgate President of International Television & Digital Distribution says: 'BBC is the perfect home for the return of these beloved characters, and we are pleased to re-team with Merman to bring Amandaland to both fans of the original series and new audiences.'

Back in February, Diane told The Times that Motherland had been quietly axed by the BBC after three series.

She said: 'I hate to say it, because I still get women running up to me with prams in the street asking me when it’s coming back.'

The news sparked uproar from fans on social media with posts including: 'Fuming, one die-hard fan said: "F off has it been cancelled;

'Is it true that motherland has been cancelled? WTF BBC One;'

'Can't we still get one off Xmas specials etc.'

Motherland documented the highs and lows of modern middle-class parenting, and ran for three series, including two Christmas specials.

The show was created by Sharon Horgan, Graham Linehan, Helen Serafinowicz and Holly Walsh and also starred Anna Maxwell Martin, Diane Morgan, Paul Ready and Tanya Moodie.