Motherland
- TV sitcom
- BBC Two / BBC One
- 2016 - 2022
- 20 episodes (3 series)
Comedy about middle-class parenthood and juggling kids, school, and other parents. Stars Anna Maxwell Martin, Diane Morgan, Paul Ready, Lucy Punch, Philippa Dunne and more.
- Series 1, Episode 2 repeated at 10pm on BBC2
Streaming rank this week: 185
Episode menu
Series 1, Episode 4 - The Cavalry
Further details
While Paul's away he has the perfect solution to help out Julia: he sends his parents to help.
Luckily Kevin has a huge fondness for the elderly and assists Julia in her in-law wrangling. Meanwhile, Amanda is having a clearout and reluctantly gives Liz her old coat, which seems to have an effect on our Liz.
Motherland isn't the public face of motherhood, it's unromanticised parenting: competition, cafes full of kids, and lunch delivered in dog poo bags.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Tuesday 28th November 2017
- Time
- 10pm
- Channel
- BBC Two
- Length
- 30 minutes
Upcoming repeats
- Thursday 5th December 2024 at 10:00pm on BBC2
Cast & crew
| Anna Maxwell Martin | Julia |
| Diane Morgan | Liz |
| Paul Ready | Kevin |
| Lucy Punch | Amanda |
| Philippa Dunne | Anne |
| Oliver Chris | Paul |
| Jackie Clune | Mrs Lamb |
| Vilma Hollingbery | Barbara |
| Lolly Adefope | Penny |
| Ross Armstrong | Trevor |
| David Calder | Geoff |
| Morgan Jones | Flower Man |
| Nikhil Parmar | Waiter |
| Penny Ryder | Elizabeth |
| Bronson Webb | Luke |
| Nick Nevern | Lee |
| Sharon Horgan | Writer |
| Helen Serafinowicz (as Helen Linehan) | Writer |
| Holly Walsh | Writer |
| Graham Linehan | Writer |
| Juliet May | Director |
| Richard Boden | Producer |
| Richard Boden | Executive Producer |
| Graham Linehan | Executive Producer |
| Sharon Horgan | Executive Producer |
| Clelia Mountford | Executive Producer |
| Holly Walsh | Associate Producer |
| Samantha McCole | Line Producer |
| Jake Bernard | Editor |
| Dennis De Groot (as Dennis DeGroot) | Production Designer |
| Sarah Crowe | Casting Director |
| Caroline Pitcher | Costume Designer |
| Chris Goodger | Director of Photography |
| Vanessa White | Make-up Designer |
| Oli Julian | Composer |
| Kas Braganza | 1st Assistant Director |
| Alex Moody | Commissioning Editor |
Video
The in-laws arrive
Julia's in-laws have arrived, but her patience with them barely lasts the journey home.
Featuring: Anna Maxwell Martin (Julia), David Calder (Geoff) & Penny Ryder (Elizabeth).
Press
Motherland, episode 4 review
It's become increasingly clear that Julia is not a heroine but an irritant.
Michael Hogan, The Telegraph, 29th November 2017Episode four of Linehan, Linehan, Horgan and Walsh's excellent comedy about the Ocado-flavoured trials of suburban motherhood, and Julia (Anna Maxwell Martin) is struggling to cope. In what is now a running gag, she calls husband Paul, who is super busy (read: enjoying punting and Pimms). He offers to send his parents to help, but Elizabeth and Geoff only aggravate Julia further, despite Kevin stepping in to offer his "expertise" with the elderly.
Hannah J Davies, The Guardian, 28th November 2017Are these the most dislikeable women on TV?
In a British comedy landscape where truly immoral protagonists are overwhelmingly men, Motherland stands out.
Anna Leszkiewicz, The New Statesman, 28th November 2017