BBC confirms third series for Motherland

Tuesday 1st October 2019, 12:00am

Motherland. Image shows from L to R: Anne (Philippa Dunne), Amanda (Lucy Punch), Julia (Anna Maxwell Martin), Liz (Diane Morgan), Kevin (Paul Ready), Meg (Tanya Moodie)
  • Motherland is to return for a third series
  • The comedy follows the struggles of middle-class parenting
  • Series 2 begins on BBC Two on Monday

BBC Two has commissioned a third series of single camera sitcom Motherland.

The comedy's second series - following a group of middle-class parents in a London suburb - begins airing on Monday.

Starring Anna Maxwell Martin, Diane Morgan, Lucy Punch, Paul Ready, Philippa Dunne and, new for Series 2, Tanya Moodie, Motherland "doesn't linger on the Instagrammable side of parenting".

The BBC explains: "Motherland revels in the unromantic side, navigating the trials and traumas of juggling careers and childcare, being caught in your pyjamas 'working from home', half-term holidays and non-competitive sports days."

Motherland is written by Sharon Horgan, Holly Walsh, Helen Linehan and Barunka O'Shaughnessy. Series 1 and the original pilot were also co-written with Linehan's husband, Graham, writer of The IT Crowd.

Series 3 is likely to be broadcast late in 2020.

Shane Allen, Controller, Comedy Commissioning at the BBC, says: "The sheer amount of top of their game comedy brains both in front and behind camera in one show is staggering. Series 2 has the sharpest and paciest writing which places our relentlessly inept ensemble into ever inventive heights of degradation, we want more and we want it as soon as possible. This is a show that will run for as long as the team are able to keep making it and is the easiest commissioning decision this side of renewing Coronation Street."

Horgan, who also acts as executive producer through her company, Merman, said: "Making the second series of Motherland was even more therapeutic than the first. We gratefully accept Shane Allen's offer of further treatment courtesy of the BBC."

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