Diane Morgan, the mind behind Mandy and Cunk on Earth, is teaming up with Frayed creator Sarah Kendall for a new BBC sitcom with the working title Ann Droid. The six-part series, which has officially started filming for BBC One and iPlayer, will star BAFTA nominee Sue Johnston (The Royle Family) and Paul Ready (Motherland).
Set in the near future of 2029, the story centres on Sue (Johnston), a woman whose husband died 18 months prior. Her life is upended again when her son, Michael (Ready), moves out and presents her with a second-hand AnnDroid Z58/100 Basic Eldercare Robot named Linda, played by Morgan. The robot is designed to provide companionship and health monitoring for the elderly, easing the burden on the healthcare system.
Sue’s initial reaction to her new synthetic companion is one of horror; she finds the robot to be an intrusive and socially awkward nuisance. This dynamic changes when she discovers she can manipulate her new aide to settle old scores and handle tasks her son never quite manages to complete. The plot develops into a buddy comedy built on the unlikely friendship between an older woman and her technologically advanced, yet socially clumsy, robot.
“I’m thrilled to be back in the heart of BBC comedy,” Johnston stated. “[Diane and Sarah] have created a comedy that will resonate with lots of different audiences, for different reasons and I cannot wait to get started.” The series is a Boffola Pictures and Witchcraft Industries production, directed by Joe Roberts.
