Amandaland has returned for a second series but many fans had a complaint as it got underway.
The comedy – a BBC spin-off of the series Motherland which sees Lucy Punch reprise the role of Amanda – was a ratings winner when it started last year and plenty of viewers posted messages on social media saying it was “great” to see it return for season two.
However, some fans felt it was not as good as Motherland, which starred Anna Maxwell Martin as hapless mum Julia.
“S2 > S1, but still nowhere near Motherland,” said one person on X, adding that original characters Julia, Kevin (played by Paul Ready) and Liz (Diane Morgan) “had the magic”.
View 4 ImagesLucy Punch has reprised her leading role in Amandaland(Image: BBC/Merman)
“I mean it’s good, but it’s no Motherland,” someone else wrote on the platform, which was formerly Twitter.
“I love this show – not quite Motherland but still fun,” said another viewer.
Meanwhile, a review in The Guardian suggested that the series was “not as delectably spiky as Motherland”.
However, many thought it was “hilarious”, with one remarking: “So good to see this back, love it.”
“Absolutely brilliant,” said another, as one fan confessed: “Binged Amandaland season 2 in one go and now sad!! We need more.”
View 4 ImagesLucy Punch has returned for a second series of Amandaland(Image: BBC screengrab)
Motherland ran for three series, wrapping with a Christmas special in 2022.
Amandaland started last year, following the character after she had split from her husband and moved to a different area, raising her children as a single mum with the help of a new set of school parent friends, while also reconnecting with old sidekick Anne (Philippa Dunne).
Series two sees Amanda still in “SoHa” – the name she has given her new home of South Harlesden – as she juggles parenting teenagers with trying to boost her online Senuous brand.
View 4 ImagesMotherland was a huge hit(Image: BBC/Merman/Colin Hutton)
Fans of Motherland have hoped for a crossover episode, with one recently commenting on X: “I know it’s a long shot, but I’m still holding out for the Motherland gang making a cameo in one episode by gatecrashing Amandaland and cramping Amanda’s style.
“The original cast prolly have other filming commitments, but I can still dream ;-).”
Amandaland is available on BBC One and the BBC iPlayer.