AMANDALAND: CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR NEW BBC COMEDY MOTHERLAND SPINE-OFF SERIES
Following three series of the BAFTA award-winning series Motherland produced by Merman, Amandaland which focuses on the character of Amanda played by Lucy Punch, is coming to BBC One and iPlayer in February.
Leading the cast as previously announced are Lucy Punch as Amanda, Joanna Lumley as Felicity and Philippa Dunne as Anne. Joining the cast will be Samuel Anderson (Gavin & Stacey) as Mal, Siobhan McSweeney (Derry Girls) as Della, Rochenda Sandall (Line of Duty) as Fi, Ekow Quartey (Trying) as JJ and Peter Serafinowicz (The Gentlemen) as Johannes.
Tanya Qureshi, Head of Comedy at the BBC says: "We can’t wait for audiences to see Amanda’s new chapter, brought to life by such a talented cast and a wonderfully sharp set of characters. It’s going to be a real treat."
Sharon Horgan, Co-Founder of Merman says: "I was genuinely sad having to say goodbye to Motherland. There's such a fondness for that show and those characters...
"So it was a real thrill to get to pick up the further adventures of Amanda and Anne, not to mention Felicity. Lucy, Phillipa and Joanna are top of their game in these roles and are joined by an incredibly funny and talented new cast. Can't wait to showcase the next challenges of parenthood and the very particular kind of friendship the school gates bring."
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. Not even a woman as certain of her parenting as Amanda can deal with these nightmares alone.
Amanda’s mother Felicity (Joanna Lumley) 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 created by Sharon Horgan (Motherland, Bad Sisters), Holly Walsh (Motherland, The Other One, Dead Boss), Helen Serafinowicz (Motherland, Nova Jones), and Barunka O'Shaughnessy (Breeders, Trying, Motherland). It is written by Holly Walsh, Helen Serafinowicz, Barunka O'Shaughnessy and Laurence Rickard (Ghosts, Yonderland).
Amandaland (6 x 30) is a Merman production for BBC One and iPlayer.