The nation’s hearts broke back in 2022 when Motherland came to an end after five years with a rather morbid Christmas special that knocked the festive spirit right out of us. But flash forward three years and we’ve been treated to the show’s fabulous spin-off Amandaland, which sees Lucy Punch reprise her role as Amanda Hughes and Philippa Dunne returning as Anne Flynn.
Joanna Lumley is back as Amanda’s hard to impress mother Felicity, too, but everybody’s favourite trio Julia, Liz and Kevin are nowhere to be seen.
However, Anna Maxwell Martin – who played Julia in the hit BBC sitcom – has told Closer she’s up for a return in the show’s second series.
Speaking at the Royal Television Society awards, Anna said of her character, ‘I think she’s still off somewhere having a complete nervous breakdown.’
When asked if she’d make a cameo in the second series of Amandaland, she said, ‘I think I’d go back for a one-off sports day or Tupperware party.
‘It’s a really amazing show, I love it. I love the success that it’s had for the girls. I love Lucy and Phil so much, I think the spin-off was the right thing.
‘It fit that character so well and there was lots more story to tell but I feel like [Motherland] finished at the right time for all of us.
‘We had a really successful show that I’m really proud of.’
During its five-year run, Motherland picked up a TV BAFTA for Best Scripted Comedy and was picked up in the US.
Amandaland focuses on Amanda as she raises her teenage children Manus and Georgie after downsizing and moving to a new area following her divorce from husband Johnny.
Viewers watched as Amanda had to deal with modern motherhood horrors like teenage drinking, fake Instagram accounts and eco-anxiety during the first series, which won rave reviews from critics.
Speaking about her character, Lucy said in February, ‘Amanda also has an enormous ego and a lot of pride, and I think that her mask has come off now, and she's sort of fallen, and she wants that status back that she had, and is desperate.’
Samuel McManus is a senior content creator for Bauer Media, writing celebrity news and features across five of the company’s brands – heat, Closer, Grazia, Bella and Yours. Samuel has worked in showbiz journalism for seven years and enjoys covering everything from the royals to Love Island and his beloved EastEnders.