BBC announces Motherland spin off just months after axing popular comedy

A brand new spin off has been announced after the BBC axed Bafta award-winning series Motherland. It was revealed that the much-loved show would not return when The Times interviewed actress Diane Morgan, who played single mother Liz in the show.

She explained: “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 hit comedy was all about the trials and traumas of middle-class mums.

Diane did hint that a spin-off is in the works, featuring Lucy Punch’s character Amanda. She added: “It’ll live on through her. The ladies with the prams will be pleased, hopefully.”

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Now the BBC has confirmed that this is officially in the pipeline. In an announcement made on Saturday, May 18 the broadcaster said the spin-off will be called Amandaland and will follow Amanda's life post divorce. For the latest TV & Showbiz news, sign up to our newsletter

It said: "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. 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. Thank God for Anne."

Amandaland is written by Holly Walsh (Motherland, The Other One, Dead Boss), Helen Serafinowicz (Motherland, Nova Jones) and Barunka O'Shaughnessy (Breeders, Trying, Motherland).

Amandaland is a Merman production for BBC One and iPlayer. The show was commissioned by Tanya Qureshi, Head of Comedy at the BBC. The Executive Producers for Merman are Sharon Horgan, Clelia Mountford, Helen Serafinowicz, Barunka O'Shaughnessy and Holly Walsh. Lionsgate distributes the series worldwide.

Full casting, production credits and scheduling will be announced in due course.