Motherland (TV series)

Motherland is a British sitcom set in London, which explores the trials of middle-class motherhood. A pilot episode, written by Graham Linehan, Sharon Horgan, 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 season 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, centering around Amanda (Lucy Punch), with Philippa Dunne and Joanna Lumley reprising their roles of Anne and Amanda's mother Felicity respectively.

Synopsis
When her mother abruptly decides to stop taking care of her children, working mother Julia Johnstone 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

Development
The show was originally a 2011 pilot on the American network ABC. However, comedian and writer Sharon Horgan reworked the script when the pilot wasn't picked up for a full season 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. In March 2023, ABC confirmed a 2nd US pilot this time known as Drop Off starring Ellie Kemper who will also serve as an executive producer alongside Karan Soni. ABC Signature and Lionsgate will produce the pilot. However see the Scrapped Remake section.

Filming
The show was filmed primarily in Muswell Hill, North London, Hammersmith, Acton, Bedford Park and Chiswick, West London. Scenes outside the children's school are filmed at Southfield Primary School in Bedford Park. The Pool Party episode of season one was filmed at the Charing Cross Sports Club, in Hammersmith. The hospital the parents visited in the last episode of the first series was Ealing Hospital, in Southall. The Sports Day episode of series two was filmed at the Southfield Recreation Ground in Bedford Park. The school the parents visit in the Catchment Area episode is Elthorne Park High School in Hanwell. In the 2022 Christmas special, the opening scene at the market was filmed on Pitshanger Lane in Ealing, at the butchers Hook and Cleaver.

Filming for the pilot took place in March 2016 and aired in September 2016. Filming for the first series took place from June to August 2017 and aired in November and December 2017. The second series was filmed from March to May 2019 and aired in October and November 2019. The third series was filmed from September to November 2020 and aired in May 2021. The 2020 Christmas special is the first episode of the third series but aired earlier in December 2020. The latest Christmas special was filmed in November 2022 and released in December 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.

Scrapped remake
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.