Motherland is a British sitcom set in West London, which explores the trials of middle-class motherhood. A pilot episode, written by Sharon Horgan, Graham Linehan, Helen Serafinowicz and Holly Walsh, was first broadcast on BBC Two on 6 September 2016 as part of its "Sitcom Season". The BBC subsequently ordered a full series of six episodes, the first of which aired on 7 November 2017.

The second series was released on BBC iPlayer on 7 October 2019. The third series began transmission on BBC2 on 10 May 2021, with all five episodes being released on BBC iPlayer the same day. In the United States, the show is broadcast on Sundance TV. The series won a British Academy Television Award for Best Scripted Comedy in 2022. A second Christmas special aired on 23 December 2022 on BBC One.

A spin-off was announced in May 2024 titled Amandaland, centring around Amanda (Lucy Punch) with Philippa Dunne and Joanna Lumley reprising their roles of Anne and Amanda's mother Felicity respectively.

Synopsis When working mother Julia Johnstone's mother abruptly decides to stop taking care of her grandchildren, Julia is forced to take a much more active role in their lives and education. She becomes friends with working-class Liz and stay-at-home dad Kevin Brady, and finds herself interacting with the local mother group, including their shallow and acerbic leader, Amanda. Julia is constantly overwhelmed by aspects of parenthood, and receives no support from her perpetually absent husband Paul. Working at a PR firm at the start of the series, Julia eventually quits and starts her own PR business.

Cast and characters

= Main cast = Recurring cast = Guest cast +CharacterPortrayed byCharacter NotesSeries123Julia Johnstone Anna Maxwell Martin After losing her mother's help with childcare, Julia faces a far bigger role in her children's lives than before. She initially tries to become part of the Alpha Mums group, but realises she has more in common with parenting "misfits" Liz and Kevin. She has two children: Ivy and James, and is married to Paul. colspan="3" Liz Diane Morgan A sardonic and blunt-talking single mother who is unpopular with Amanda's clique. Liz forms a trio alongside Kevin and Julia. She has two sons, Charlie and Max, of whom she shares custody with her ex-husband, Lee. colspan="3" Kevin BradyPaul Ready A stay-at-home dad to Emily and Rosie, who unsuccessfully tries to ingratiate himself into Amanda's circle. His wife, Jill, an unseen character, treats him terribly and seems to resent both him and their daughters; they divorce in the third series. colspan="3" Amanda Hughes/SandersonLucy Punch The acerbic and self-centred leader of the "Alpha Mums", obsessed with compliments on her youthful appearance and energy. Extremely image-conscious, she pretends her marriage is perfect, but her husband Johnny treats her dismissively, and they divorce in the second series. She has two children, Manus and Georgie. colspan="3" Anne Flynn Philippa Dunne A timid Irish mum with several children who seems to be perpetually pregnant. She is one of Amanda's friends, although Amanda treats her poorly, leading her to grow closer to Julia, Liz, and Kevin as the series progresses. She is extremely over-protective of her children, Darius, Niamh and an unborn baby. colspan="3" Meg Tanya Moodie A busy working mum with a remarkable capacity for partying. Julia is initially jealous of Meg's ability to juggle, but Meg becomes good friends with the trio, especially Amanda who almost worshipped her from day one. She is diagnosed with breast cancer in the third series, but is later in remission. colspan="2" RecurringPaul Johnstone Oliver Chris Julia's uninvolved husband and the father of her two children. Paul only appears on the phone to Julia, making excuses for why he cannot help with the children, until the final episode of series three. colspan="3" Irene Lamb Jackie Clune The school receptionist, moody and terse towards many of the parents, but especially towards Julia. colspan="3" Marion Paterson Ellie Haddington Julia's mother, who is no longer prepared to provide a free child-minding service. After fainting in the series 2 finale, she is found to be unable to take care of herself, so moves in with Julia in series 3. She dies in the 2022 Christmas special. colspan="3" Ivy Johnstone Connie Wilkins Julia and Paul's 9-year-old daughter. She usually appears in a non-speaking role. colspan="3" Lee Nick Nevern Liz's ex and father of her children. colspan="3" Johnny Terry Mynott Amanda's husband, from whom she later separates. He is called Ian in the pilot. colspan="2" Sam Tom Meeten Liz's farmer boyfriend whom she meets when camping with the group. colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="1" Garry Yates Robbie Gee Julia's builder, on whom she develops a crush and flirts with awkwardly despite his indifference (and inflated invoicing). colspan="2" colspan="1" Guest Andrew Peter Singh Julia's boss before she quits to run her own PR firm. colspan="2" colspan="1" Elizabeth Johnstone Penny Ryder Paul's mother, who takes more looking after than the children do. She appears in both Christmas specials. colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="1" Geoff Johnstone David Calder Paul's father. He appears in both Christmas specials. colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="1" Bill Anthony Head Meg's husband. colspan="2" Felicity Joanna Lumley Amanda's mum, who has a similarly acerbic personality. Amanda cuts ties with her in the 2022 Christmas special, having realised their relationship is toxic. colspan="2" Ms VaughnNatalie CassidyA teaching assistant who comes on a school trip to Fishbourne Roman Palace. She is dim-witted and constantly being sick. colspan="2" AshleyMartha Howe-DouglasThe mother of a boy in the same year group as the other parents'. She also comes on the school trip, but gets confrontational with Liz when Liz accuses her son for being racist towards Meg's daughter Jade. colspan="2"

Production Development The show was originally a 2011 pilot on the American network ABC. Writer Sharon Horgan reworked the script when the pilot was not picked up for a full series and collaborated with Graham Linehan on turning it into a British sitcom instead. Following its pilot on BBC, it was picked up for a full series in October 2016.

Filming

The show is set in Queen's Park,Irish Independent - https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/the-mother-of-all-comedies/a/146460344.html but filmed primarily in Acton, Ealing, Bedford Park, Chiswick, West London and Muswell Hill, North London. Scenes outside the children's school are filmed at Southfield Primary School in Bedford Park. Other areas include Hammersmith, West Kilburn, Hanwell, Ladbroke Grove and Harlesden. Julia's house is 1 Avenue Gardens in South Acton and the University of West London on the Golden Mile (Brentford) doubled as Julia's work office.

In the Pool Party episode of series one, the lobby scenes were filmed at Mallinson Sports Centre at Highgate School.

The pilot was filmed in April 2016 and aired on 6 September 2016. The first series was filmed from late June to early August 2017 and aired from 7 November to 12 December 2017. Filming for the second series started in March 2019, and aired from 7 October to 11 November 2019.

The third series was in the midst of filming in October 2020 and all episodes aired in May 2021. The 2020 Christmas special was filmed in November 2020 and is the first episode of the third series but aired earlier on 23 December 2020. The latest Christmas special was filmed in November 2022 and released on 23 December 2022.

Episodes

Pilot (2016)

Series 1 (2017)

Series 2 (2019)

Christmas special (2020)

Series 3 (2021)

Christmas special (2022)

Reception The first series was released to favourable reviews and holds an approval rating of 82% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 22 reviews with critics. The website's critical consensus reads "Motherland pulls no punches, creating an honest and hilarious portrayal of parenthood buoyed by brilliant performances from its seasoned cast - though for some viewers it may hit a little too close to home". The second series later received a score of 83% based on 12 reviews, with the Christmas special following on with a score of 100% based on 8 reviews. The third series later received five out of five stars by Radio Times and was released to positive reviews. The second Christmas Special, Last Christmas, which aired on 23 December 2022, garnered positive reviews.

Adaptations and spin-off In March 2023 an American remake under the working title Drop-Off was given a pilot order by ABC, being executive produced by and starring Ellie Kemper. In June 2023 its title was revealed to be Keeping it Together. ABC meanwhile passed on developing the show.

Spin-off

In May 2024, the BBC announced a spin-off of the series, titled Amandaland, to focus on Punch's character. Punch, Dunne and Lumley were confirmed to reprise their roles in the series.

The spin-off follows Amanda's life after divorce forces her to move from Queen's Park to the less prosperous nearby area of South Harlesden. Filming began in September 2024. All six episodes of the first series were released on 5 February 2025. A second series was confirmed in March 2026, and was released on 6 May 2026.

References

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