Comedian and actor Diane Morgan has revealed she was not invited to join the cast of Amandaland, the spin-off series of the popular BBC show Motherland. Morgan played the sarcastic single mother Liz on Motherland, which ended in March 2024 after three series.
The new series, Amandaland, focuses on Lucy Punch’s character Amanda, an alpha mother navigating life after her divorce and move from Chiswick to South Harlesden. The show also features characters played by Philippa Dunne and Joanna Lumley, continuing from the original series.
Speaking to The Guardian, Morgan described the situation as “a bit awkward” but acknowledged that Amandaland is a different show. She said it would have been strange for the entire original cast to return given the spin-off’s new focus.
Morgan also admitted she has never watched Amandaland because, as a comedian, she finds it hard to enjoy funny shows. “It feels too close to home,” she explained. Instead, she prefers watching documentaries from the 1970s.
Motherland first aired in 2017 and gained praise for its portrayal of middle-class motherhood challenges. The show returned briefly for a Christmas special in 2022, but Morgan confirmed there are no plans for a fourth series.
Since its release in February 2025, Amandaland has received positive reviews, with critics highlighting Lucy Punch’s strong performance.
