Philomena Cunk favourite Diane Morgan is reunited with Motherland co-star in first look at new BBC sci-fi sitcom

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Diane Morgan is working with a popular co-star from her show Motherland in her new BBC sitcom, Ann Droid. Some initial photos from the show have just been released.

The new series centers around Sue (played by Sue Johnston, known from The Royle Family and Riot Women), who receives a state-of-the-art “Basic Eldercare Robot” as a gift from her son, Michael (Paul Ready from Motherland).

This advanced device is meant to care for Sue while Michael temporarily leaves to try and fix his troubled marriage, a situation his mother deeply dislikes. She believes the appliance, which she sees as being too helpful, is her biggest fear.

Despite their differences, Sue and the robot eventually become friends. After her husband dies, Sue discovers the robot can assist her with tasks her son is too busy to handle, including resolving old grievances.

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This series is a funny story about the unlikely friendship between an older woman and a robot. While the robot is incredibly skilled technically, it’s still learning how to navigate social situations. The show explores a big question relevant today with the rise of artificial intelligence: what things can technology truly replace, and what makes us uniquely human?

These initial photos show Sue with her unusual companion, ‘Linda’ – that’s what she calls her used Ann Droid. One picture even captures Linda just after being taken out of her old, beat-up box on the front porch.

A new photo shows Sue and her son, Michael, sharing a sweet moment together in her kitchen.

This isn’t the first time Morgan and Ready have worked together. Fans may remember them as Liz and Kevin from the show Motherland, where they played friends dealing with the ups and downs of raising kids, alongside Anna Maxwell Martin’s character, Julia.

It’s unclear if Michael is as shy as Kevin, a stay-at-home dad, but both men share the common ground of having troubled marriages.

Ann Droid is a new six-episode comedy series coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this year. It was created by Morgan and Sarah Kendall, who you might recognize from Taskmaster and her show Dreamland. The series was ordered in May of last year and filming began in October.

Johnston expressed his excitement about returning to BBC comedy, praising Diane and Sarah for creating a show with broad appeal. He said he’s eager to begin working on it.

I’m thrilled to be working with Diane Morgan again! She’s incredibly talented, and any opportunity to collaborate with her should be jumped at. I’m really excited to help bring Michael to life in her fantastic comedy series.

Ann Droid is coming soon to BBC One and iPlayer.

Don’t miss out! Add Ann Droid to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download it today for daily TV suggestions, exclusive features, and more.

Authors

David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig writes about TV and streaming drama and comedy for TopMob. Before that, he was at Starburst Magazine and hosted the Winter King Podcast on ITVX. He has a journalism degree from the University of Sheffield.

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2026-05-06 18:37