Amy Manson

Ladybaby (BBC3) is a comedy from Scotland hoping to go from pilot to series. On this evidence it should.

Suzie, played by Amy Manson, has a friend who's just become a mum and can't think of anything less appealing. "If I ever give birth I won't have a baby, I'll have a pickled egg," she declares.

But she had a baby back when she was 15, the unintended consequence of a school field-trip to the Lake District where the condoms were used to water-bomb ramblers. Given up for adoption, Kate (Mirren Mack from The Nest) appears out of nowhere. Well, specifically: out of the dry ice in a nightclub after Suzie - her mum - has just enjoyed a knee-trembler with the resident DJ.

"You ticked the box for 'No contact,'" says Kate. "Well, the law's changed and I did want contact." Suzie tries to make up for lost time. "Er," says Kate, "are you trying to smell my head?"

The pair seem worlds apart, Suzie asking Kate: "Do you have a career? Do you do a weekly shop? Do you carry tissues in your bag?" Suzie has/does none of these things. In reply Kate says "You seem really young," suggesting maturity for her mother post-Lake Windermere is still a work-in-progress. There's great potential in Kirstie Swain's comedy - especially with Phyllis Logan and Ford Kiernan as Suzie's parents - though Ladybaby has already given up the money shot with Suzie getting to sniff Kate's head.

Aidan Smith, The Scotsman, 28th August 2021