Latest news with #Merman
BBC News
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
BBC confirms second series of hit comedy Amandaland
The hit BBC comedy Amandaland, starring Lucy Punch, Joanna Lumley and Philippa Dunne, is officially returning to iPlayer and BBC One after a standout debut. Since launching, Amandaland has averaged 6.4 million viewers to date, making it the BBC's second biggest comedy launch in recent years (excluding specials), behind Ludwig (9.5 million) and on par with The Outlaws (6.4 millions), according to the latest data. The series has also been a hit with younger audiences, drawing 0.9 million 16-34s, the biggest BBC comedy audience in this demographic since The Cleaner in 2021. Watch Amandaland on BBC iPlayer and add to your Watchlist Produced by Merman, Amandaland follows Lucy Punch as Amanda, who in series one had to downsize and up sticks to South Harlesden, or as the estate agent called it SoHa (definitely not the area around Wormwood Scrubs prison) post her divorce. With both Manus and Georgie at secondary school, Amanda had 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 could deal with those nightmares alone. Amanda's mother Felicity (Joanna Lumley) was constantly around, and completely in denial that she was, 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) was 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. The first series also introduced a host of new characters, including Amanda's long-suffering downstairs neighbour Mal (Samuel Anderson) and JJ (Ekow Quartey), the stepfather to Mal's son Ned, as well as power couple Della and Fi (Siobhán McSweeney and Rochenda Sandall) and smooth-talking South African property developer Johannes (Peter Serafinowicz). Co-writer and creator Holly Walsh says: 'We've been bowled over by the response to Amandaland and can't wait to get co-labbing on the next series.' Sharon Horgan, Co-Founder of Merman says: 'With any new show you put out there, your main hope is to make something you love and are proud of. The extra bonus is that it's a critical hit. But to have a loyal audience of this size is just beyond your hopes and expectations. The incredible cast and writers, director and production team worked so hard on this show and it's so wonderful to see that hard work pay off. Special thanks to Lucy for being the most extraordinary front woman and to the BBC for having such faith in the idea of Amandaland from the off.' Tanya Qureshi, Head of Comedy at the BBC says: 'We always had high hopes for Amandaland, but it's been amazing to see how much viewers have embraced not just the returning characters, but the brilliant new additions too. We're so thrilled to reunite with this talented team for another instalment of Amanda's new life in SoHa.' Amandaland was created by Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters, Catastrophe), Holly Walsh (Motherland, The Other One, Dead Boss), Helen Serafinowicz (Motherland, Nova Jones), and Barunka O'Shaughnessy (Breeders, Trying, Motherland). It was written by Holly Walsh, Helen Serafinowicz, Barunka O'Shaughnessy and Laurence Rickard (Ghosts, Yonderland). Lionsgate distributes the series worldwide. Critical Acclaim 'Punch carries most of the heavy lifting with ease, and the result is not only a spin-off that punches above its weight: it is lovely, life-affirming escapism.' The Times (5*) 'Joanna Lumley has made a career out of stealing shows. She can be great in a starring role, but when she's the support act, she's Absolutely Fabulous. From the moment she stumbles through the front door in Amandaland, Dame Joanna gathers up the laughs and sweeps them into her handbag like an aristocratic shoplifter on a spree.' Daily Mail (5*) 'With a hilarious dialogue from the same team who write Motherland, a glorious cast of characters old and news, and a dazzlingly fast and funny opening episode, Amandaland looks like being just as fabulous as its parent show.' Heat (5*) 'Amandaland will make you howl with laughter – Lucy Punch has never been better.' The Independent (4*) 'The signs are good that Amandaland could join the ranks of the great comedy spin-offs' Radio Times (4*) 'Original British comedy is enjoying a period of strength at the moment, and Amandaland has joined the ranks of the outstanding newcomers.' Financial Times (4*) 'All this action and wit is upheld perfectly by Lucy Punch, who makes the turn from enjoyable side character to magnetic main character with unexpected, brilliant ease… Turns out it packs quite the Punch.' The Evening Standard 'In short, it's genius.' New Statesman 'Amandaland is brilliant, brutal and 100% better than it has any right to be.' Stylist OH Notes to Editors Source: Barb as viewed: all homes, all devices, all viewing, data run in TechEdge 04/03/2025 PM. Please note this is not our final 28 day figure.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Amandaland on BBC One: What time it is on, cast list and plot for Motherland spin-off
Familiar faces will be appearing on our screens once again for the new BBC spin-off series Amandaland. The series will see actresses Lucy Punch, Joanna Lumely, and Phillipa Dunne reprise their much loved roles from previous BBC comedy, Motherland. Amandaland follows on from the finale of Motherland, and catches up with the characters as they navigate their changed lives. Lucy Punch reprises her role as Amanda, who is now having to downsize and make the move from Chiswick to South Harlesden after her divorce. With her two children now at secondary school, Amanda faces new challenges as she attempts to navigate the world of teen-drinking, fake Instagram accounts, and eco-anxiety. In the new series we also see the return of anxious mother, Anne, who is again sucked into Amanda's world as she tries to help her to navigate life at the children's new school. READ MORE: BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Johannes Radebe supported as he asks 'how' amid 'split' from co-star READ MORE: BBC Breakfast's Sally Nugent halts show to announce heartbreaking news Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumely will also return to the series as Amanda's in-denial mother, Felicity. Here is everything you need to know about the Motherland spin-off. The new series will air Wednesday February 5 at 9pm on BBC One. There are six episodes of the series and they can now also be streamed on BBC iPlayer. Amanda - Lucy Punch Anne - Philippa Dunne Felicity - Joanna Lumley Mal - Samuel Anderson Della - Siobhan McSweeney Fi - Rochenda Sandall JJ - Ekow Quartey Manus - Alexander Shaw Georgie - Miley Locke Darius - Jack Veal Morten - Anya McKenna-Bruce Ned - Archie Smith Mum - Anna Fey Joy - Liz Sutherland-Lim Seeing the reprisal of multiple roles from the previous series of Motherland, head of comedy at the BBC, Tanya Qureshi, said: '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.' Production team Merman have created the upcoming series of Amandaland. Commenting on the spin-off series from Motherland, co-founder of Merman, Sharon Horgan, said: '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.'
