Amandaland; A Hilarious Dive into Modern Parenting and Class Dynamics

2025-03-01

Amandaland, the spin-off from the Bafta-winning sitcom Motherland, has arrived on BBC One to critical acclaim. The series sees Lucy Punch reprise her role as Amanda, the hilariously narcissistic and competitive mother who was a standout character in the original show. This time, Amanda is navigating life as a recently divorced single mother in south Harlesden, having swapped her posh Chiswick lifestyle for a more modest existence.

The show, created and written by the Motherland team—Holly Walsh, Helen Serafinowicz, and Barunka O’Shaughnessy, with Sharon Horgan credited as creator—retains the sharp wit and satirical edge of its predecessor. Amanda’s new life is a far cry from her W4 days, as she grapples with parenting teenagers, a Tesla perpetually on the brink of running out of battery, and the challenges of integrating into a new community.

Critics have praised the series for its clever writing and Punch’s stellar performance. The Independent described it as “clever, jolly, and hard to resist,” while The Telegraph hailed it as “both hilarious and heartfelt.” Punch’s portrayal of Amanda, a woman oscillating between absurdity and vulnerability, has been particularly lauded. Her comic timing and delivery of killer lines, such as “I’m actually reclaiming the word ‘simpleton’,” have been highlighted as standout moments.

Joanna Lumley returns as Amanda’s mother, Felicity, bringing her signature Ab Fab flair to the role. Their toxic yet oddly endearing relationship adds depth to the comedy. New characters, including Amanda’s downstairs neighbour Mal (Samuel Anderson) and celebrity chef Della (Siobhán McSweeney), bring fresh dynamics to the show, though some critics noted that the male characters are less convincingly drawn than the women.

The series also tackles themes of gentrification and class, with Amanda’s move to south Harlesden serving as a backdrop for commentary on the changing face of London. The show’s ability to balance humour with poignant moments has been widely praised, with The Guardian noting that it “fizzes with the hysterical energy of perimenopause.”

Overall, Amandaland has been celebrated as a worthy successor to Motherland, offering a mix of sharp satire, relatable parenting struggles, and laugh-out-loud moments. As The Times put it, the show is “a Hyacinth Bucket for 2025,” capturing the absurdity of modern middle-class life with both heart and humour.

Amandaland review – a rare chance to laugh so hard you wee yourself

The worst Motherland mother of all gets her own spin-off – and the gag rate is so high it fizzes with the hysterical energy of perimenopause. It’s goo

www.theguardian.com

Amandaland will make you howl with laughter – Lucy Punch has never been better

‘Motherland’ spin-off, following Punch’s posh alpha mum, is clever, jolly and hard to resist

www.independent.co.uk

Amandaland the mother of all comedies, say critics

Lucy Punch stars as Amanda in the sitcom, a spin-off from the popular BBC series Motherland.

www.bbc.co.uk

Amandaland, review: Lucy Punch and Joanna Lumley make a dream comic double act

Motherland fans needn’t have worried – BBC One’s new spin-off, focusing on Lucy Punch’s yummy mummy Amanda, is both hilarious and heartfelt

www.telegraph.co.uk

Lucy Punch: ‘My list of failures? I did a film with Woody Allen’

After decades of playing posh, smug supporting roles, comic actor Punch finally has the opportunity to star as a posh, smug lead in her own BBC show,

www.independent.co.uk

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Shirlie and Martin have a stunning Victorian home

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Amandaland airs on BBC One at 9pm on February 5 and the series follows Amanda (played by Lucy Punch) as she raises her teenage children following a re

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Lucy Punch and Joanna Lumley provide more laughs per scene than other BBC comedies do per year

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Amandaland star Samuel Anderson's life from Emmerdale to sweet reunion

The highly-anticipated Motherland spin-off series Amandaland hit screens this week

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Amandaland and my life as the daughter of a narcissist

The TV series rings true — some of us do have toxic relationships with our mothers

www.thetimes.com

All eyes on SoHa: The NW London enclave in the Amandaland spotlight

Here’s everything you need to know about Amanda’s new ‘SoHa’ neighbourhood

www.standard.co.uk

Amandaland viewers rage 'this is rubbish' as they slam Motherland's new spin-off

AMANDALAND viewers blasted Motherland’s hotly-anticipated new spin-off as its first episode aired last night. The BBC’s beloved sitcom Motherland ende

www.thesun.co.uk