Mum's the word

Philippa Dunne, Lucy Punch and Dame Joanna Lumley in a Motherland spin-off

Award-winning sitcom Motherland gave us a hilariously recognisable look at the trials of parenting including the competitive oneupmanship at the school gates.

Among those at the heart of the series was snooty alpha mum Amanda, played by Lucy Punch, and this week the pretentious character takes centre stage in her own BBC1 spin-off Amandaland, penned by the same team.

'I was excited, surprised, and intrigued about where the writers thought Amanda could go and how the show could maintain the tone of Motherland, while doing something new, says Punch. 'It feels like the same world but it's all about figuring out who Amanda is now.

As the six-part series begins, Amanda has moved from London's leafy Chiswick to South Harlesden - which she calls SoHa - because she is downsizing after her divorce.

'Amanda is starting over. She's probably had a meltdown along the way but has now galvanised herself and is bringing her full Amanda energy to South Harlesden to whip up a storm, smiles Punch.