British Comedy Guide
Motherland. Amanda (Lucy Punch)
Lucy Punch

Lucy Punch

  • Actor

Press clippings Page 4

Motherland, final episode, review

A hilariously close-to-the-bone depiction of parenthood.

Anita Singh, The Telegraph, 11th November 2019

I made the mistake a few weeks ago of powering through every single outing of Nick Hornby's lovely, subtle State of the Union in a single night. I won't be erring in similar fashion with the latest series of Motherland, even though it's tempting, it all having been dumped on iPlayer in one greedy gloop.

No, I'll savour it: and the opener (all right, opening two) have riches to savour indeed. Chiefly, in the first, the gutsy performance of Tanya Moodie as 'aving-it-all, high-flying mum Meg, who soon lets slip that her very singular definition of "juggling" is being able to conduct a fluent South American conference-call while throwing up in a pub toilet, having just been arrested for pissing in the street. To, first of all, Julia (Anna Maxwell Martin) and her jealous disdain - her wordless, mouth-stretching half-sneers to every one of Meg's matey gambits are a joy to half-behold - and, then, her sneaking admiration: might Meg even be a role-model, a mentor, someone who can help her navigate the vicissitudes of middle-class London motherhood?

No.

Julia sinks back to her comfort levels of harried incompetence - and even below those levels, soon taking to arriving at the losers' table in the cafe in sweatpants and cheap faux-furry coat. Even Liz, the wonderfully sane-speaking Diana Morgan, raises an eyebrow: "You look like a mental patient."

Is Julia about to have that long-threatened, possibly delicious, full English breakdown? And how long can the (equally well-drawn) Amanda (Lucy Punch), arriving way late to the "hygge" beanfeast with her over-niche shop ("store," she will insist), funded by hubby's guilt-money over the split, continue to sell scented candles at £89? Cards only ("we're cashless!")? I'm going to wait to find out, and suggest you toy weekly with it: subtler than Sharon Horgan's Catastrophe, with input from a further three writers, this is at most turns a joy, although occasionally the type of joy felt upon the absence of pain about 40 seconds after stepping on a piece of Lego in your bare feet.

Euan Ferguson, The Observer, 13th October 2019

In praise of Motherland

Sharon Horgan and co's clever, funny, oestrogen-fuelled comedy is an antidote to the patronising delusions of smug parents..

Rachel Cooke, The New Statesman, 9th October 2019

TV review: Motherland, BBC2

It was announced just before this second series started that there would be a third series of Motherland. It's be interesting to see how it evolves as there are a few changes in the opening episode of the second run.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 8th October 2019

Motherland series 2 preview

It's a welcome return for Motherland, the comedy that does for parenthood what The Thick Of It did for politics - revealing in ugly detail the stresses and panic behind every hastily improvised decision made by the tired and harassed.

Steve Bennett, Chortle, 7th October 2019

Motherland, series 2, review

This astute, spiky sitcom conjures stress so vivid that it's difficult to watch.

Sarah Carson, i Newspaper, 7th October 2019

BBC confirms third series for Motherland

BBC Two has ordered a further series of comedy Motherland. The ensemble sitcom's second series begins next week.

British Comedy Guide, 1st October 2019

BBC confirms Motherland Series 2

The BBC has now officially confirmed that Motherland is due to return for a second series.

British Comedy Guide, 19th June 2018

You, Me and Him review

Nicely acted, especially by gawky Lucy Punch, this British comedy about a lesbian couple having children survives a sudden dip into tragedy.

Leslie Felperin, The Guardian, 12th April 2018

Motherland to return for Series 2

BBC Two sitcom Motherland is to return for a second series, Sharon Horgan has revealed.

British Comedy Guide, 7th March 2018

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