BBC sitcom Motherland has ended, according to star Diane Morgan, but a spin-off starring Lucy Punch is in the works. Here are the details:
The BBC sitcom Motherland has been quietly cancelled by the BBC, series regular Diane Morgan has confirmed. In an interview with The Times (as picked up by Chortle), Morgan talked about the third series of her sitcom Mandy, which returns to BBC Two tonight. But when Morgan was asked whether Motherland had ended, she confirmed it had, saying, “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 last episode was the 2022 Christmas special.
However, Morgan also said that a spin-off about Lucy Punch’s character, Amanda, was being considered, saying, “It’ll live on through her. The ladies with the prams will be pleased, hopefully”.
Motherland was created by Sharon Horgan, Holly Walsh, Helen Serafinowicz and her then-husband Graham Linehan, who stepped away from the show after the first series. It chronicled the never ending stress of motherhood through the eyes of the perpetually put-upon Julia, (Anna Maxwell Martin), who tries to do the best she can as she battles with the ‘Alpha Mums’, led by the acerbic Amanda (Lucy Punch). She’s supported by her blunt best friend Liz (Diane Morgan) and stay at home Dad Kevin (Paul Brady).
The show gradually grew in popularity, winning the BAFTA for Best Scripted Comedy in 2022.
An American remake was attempted in 2023 (developed and starring Ellie Kemper) but this never got past the pilot stage.
Morgan’s sitcom Mandy follows the titular character as she tries her hand at a variety of jobs for which she is woefully unqualified. All episodes from the third series, as well as series one and two, are available to stream on BBC iPlayer. It will also be broadcast weekly on Wednesdays at 10pm on BBC Two.
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