⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ 4.5

A familiar face to fans of comedy classics like Cunk, Mandy, Motherland, and After Life, Diane Morgan co-wrote (with stand-up comedian Sarah Kendall) and stars in this new BBC One comedy.

Morgan stars as Linda, an older reconditioned “Ann-Droid” humanoid robot who looks after Sue, portrayed brilliantly by Sue Johnston. Initially, the premise and promotional material made me apprehensive but Morgan and Johnston’s involvement draws you in and keeps you watching.

Beneath the quirky setup lies a surprisingly heartwarming story. Sue is grieving the loss of her husband, and her son Michael (Paul Ready, also from Motherland) can no longer live at home to care for her. When Morgan’s character first arrives, you wonder if the show risks veering into silly, unrealistic territory. Yet Morgan makes the newly renamed “Ann-Droid” model (now named) Linda captivating, even if her performance is intentionally stilted at times to capture a retro model feel. It’s more light comedy than laugh-out-loud, but it becomes much more amusing as you get to know the characters, the story and some in-jokes as the series progresses.

Sue Johnston delivers a beautifully vulnerable performance, while Paul Ready’s portrayal of Michael is equally compelling and interwoven with his own story arc. As the series develops, the supporting cast grows with many regulars featuring. Keep an eye out early on for Michelle Greenidge as Nurse Brianna Powell, another Mandy alum. Co-writer Sarah Kendall also features in a couple of episodes as a delivery driver.

The show quickly became addictive viewing; we paced ourselves over a few nights to take it all in. As I watched, it became increasingly enjoyable, and I could sense I was really getting into it. Unlike many other comedies, it builds a clear narrative arc throughout the series. I especially enjoyed the finale, which provided a fitting, heartfelt end while setting up possibilities for a potential second series. I suspect it will be back, as online reviews appear overwhelmingly positive.

Thanks to the brilliant leads and an unexpectedly clever script, it earns a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars.

P.S If you are a Diane Morgan quirky comedy fan, you will definitely enjoy it! We just need Mandy back now.

Set in the near future (2029), Ann Droid is a BBC comedy that follows Sue (Sue Johnston), a sharp-witted, recently widowed woman whose stressed son, Michael (Paul Ready), decides to move out to try and patch up his failing marriage.  

Worried about leaving his grieving mum on her own, Michael buys her a surprise present to help her keep her independence: a second-hand “AnnDroid Z58/100 Basic Eldercare Robot” named Linda (Diane Morgan).

Online synopsis