Amandaland review: Joanna Lumley still gets the best lines in this comedy triumph

by

A star rating of 4 out of 5.

Spin-off sitcoms are risky – many, like ‘Joey’ and ‘The Cleveland Show,’ don’t succeed. However, occasionally one truly shines, like ‘Frasier.’ BBC One’s ‘Amandaland’ is one of those successes. It quickly matched, and even exceeded, the popularity and comedic strength of its original show, ‘Motherland,’ during its first season and Christmas special.

It’s easy to understand why Amandaland is succeeding. It functions more smoothly as a classic sitcom than Motherland ever did, and Lucy Punch’s portrayal of the delusional and hilarious Amanda Hughes is exactly the type of character that drives great comedy.

However, the new season doesn’t offer much success, and Amanda faces one embarrassing situation after another, even while looking her best.

She’s facing a series of awkward situations – spotted in a funny Google Maps image, recognized and talked about at her coffee shop, and losing out on her dream home. To make matters worse, her demanding mother (played brilliantly by Joanna Lumley, who gets all the witty dialogue) constantly puts her down. But the biggest challenge is realizing her teenage children, Georgie and Manus, are growing more independent and she’s not quite the effortlessly cool mom she always envisioned.

While the first series started strong, this one is even faster-paced and funnier. The writing team – Holly Walsh, Helen Serafinowicz, Barunka O’Shaughnessy, and Laurence Rickard (known for his work on Horrible Histories and Ghosts, where he also makes a brief appearance as a teacher) – have created a consistently hilarious show.

The show is packed with witty lines – like the memorable “she came, she saw, she gentrified” – and satisfying moments that come full circle. The acting is especially strong, particularly from Punch, Lumley, and Philippa Dunne, who plays Amanda’s friend Anne. Anne finally starts to stand up for herself this season after years of being taken advantage of.

Even with a strong cast, Rosie Cavaliero almost steals the scene in the last episode. She plays a delightfully chaotic makeup artist who helps the teenagers get ready for their prom.

Okay, so while Amanda’s life looks perfect – all filtered and polished – the show itself isn’t quite as seamless. It’s a bit like a juggling act with a lot of characters, and honestly, sometimes the storylines for those around Amanda feel a little stretched. That said, when it works, it really works. Rochenda Sandall as Fi, for example, is hilarious – the bit where she unexpectedly becomes a white van driver is a standout moment.

Siobhán McSweeney’s character, the stern chef Della, isn’t featured as much this season – she’s fully in just two episodes and makes a brief appearance via video call while working abroad. This creates space for a new character to take center stage.

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We meet Abs (Harriet Webb), Mal’s ex-wife and JJ’s current partner, as a seemingly grounded contrast to Amanda’s personality. While Harriet Webb is a talented comedian, known from Channel 4’s Big Boys, her character doesn’t significantly impact the group’s interactions over the six episodes. Abs was arguably more amusing as a mysterious presence, and hopefully, future episodes will give her more to do.

Despite any flaws, this second series is a genuinely funny success. It perfectly blends great characters, a clever plot, and consistently funny jokes, making it a sitcom you’ll want to keep watching. You’ll likely see a bit of yourself in Amanda, her family, or friends – or maybe not – but it’s the kind of engaging, realistic show that would be perfect for social media, something even Amanda’s own online life couldn’t match.

Season 2 of Amandaland starts on BBC One at 9pm on Wednesday, May 6th, 2026. You can watch all episodes at once on BBC iPlayer starting that same day.

Authors

Huw FullertonCommissioning Editor

Huw Fullerton works as a Commissioning Editor at TopMob magazine, where he focuses on Entertainment, Comedy, and niche Drama content.

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2026-05-06 08:35