Mum's The Word!

Anna Maxwell Martin on why she loves playing a harassed working mother.

- Caren Clark

NEW COMEDY

Motherland

TUESDAY / BBC2 / 10.00PM (NI, 11.15Pm)

As every parent knows, schoolage children can bring a lot of challenges and BBC2’s pilot comedy Motherland, which aired last year, reflected the reality of life for many mums and dads as they tear out their hair over play-dates and playground politics.

Now, the cheeky sitcom is back for a six-part series, which centres on stressed-out working mum Julia (Anna Maxwell Martin).

Once again, Julia is trying to negotiate the ups and downs of childcare and the dreaded school run with the help of her friends, laid-back Liz (Diane Morgan) and stay-at-home dad Kevin (Paul Ready), while trying to stay in the good books of snooty alpha mum Amanda (Lucy Punch).

Here, Bafta-winner Anna, 40, better known for her dramatic roles in series such as Bleak House and The Bletchley Circle, tells us more…