As we’re reunited with Amanda (Lucy Punch) for series two of Amandaland, she’s got a lot going on. Much to her two teenagers Georgie and Manus’s embarrassment, Amanda is busy expanding her ‘lifestyle brand’ Senuous, working at Kitchen’s Bathrooms and Kitchens, and navigating her gin-loving mother’s (Joanna Lumley) snide comments.
Luckily her loyal best friend Anne (Philippa Dunne) is happy to inflate Amanda’s ego further, despite also balancing her high-powered job and being the most involved parent of their friendship group – which also consists of Rochenda Sandall as Fi, Siobhán McSweeney as Della, and Samuel Anderson as Mal, who’s still something of a romantic interest for Amanda.
The arrival of Mal’s ex, JJ’s wife and Ned’s mum Abs (new series regular Harriet Webb) however, threatens to dampen even the faintest of sparks when Amanda sees the down-to-earth charity worker as a rival.
Who stars in Amandaland?
Lucy Punch as Amanda
‘Amanda is still in SoHa,’ details Lucy Punch. ‘She’s more settled now, but still doing everything she can elevate to her social standing and circumstances. She’s just as delusional about herself as ever!
‘Her change in circumstances has made her realise, finally, that she’s no better than anyone else. In Motherland, her superiority was her ugliest trait. Nevertheless, her giant ego and status anxiety remains, so she still wants everyone to think she’s the best.’
Lucy Punch has made something of a name for herself by portraying an Ugly Sister on four different occasions – Hattie in Ella Enchanted (2004), Regan in Cinderella (2000), Fenola Gay in Fairy Tales (2008), and Lucinda in Into The Woods – but luckily, she loves it. She once joked, ‘When I was 11, I had an Ugly Sister birthday party. All my idea. Most girls want to be a fairy or a princess, but there I am with beauty spots and fur and fluorescent pink kiss-curls. When I told my mother about Into the Woods, she was like, “Oh darling, not again.”’
Notable TV roles of Lucy's include Beatrice in Ben and Kate (2012-2013), Esmé Squalor in the Neil Patrick Harris-led A Series of Unfortunate Events (2018-2019), Lili Park-Hoffsteader in The Audacity (2026).
Film-wise there has been Melanie in Are You Ready For Love? (2006), Eve Draper in Hot Fuzz (2007), Verity Thwaites in St Trinian’s (2007), Amy Squirrel in Bad Teacher (2011), Sylvia Plath in How To Build A Girl (2019), and Cynthia Sterling in Jingle Bell Heist (2025).
Philippa Dunne as Anne
‘Anne is of course still in SoHa juggling her high-powered job while raising her kids, attending all of Darius's soccer matches with the other parents, volunteering for activities in Darius's school while also being at the constant beck and call of her best pal Amanda,’ laughs Philippa Dune. ‘She's definitely more self-assured and settled into her life now, it's like she's hit her groove since going back to work and she's really enjoying having Amanda back in her life too.’
As well as being an actress, Philippa Dunne is also a successful comedy writer. Whilst Anne Flynn from Motherland (2016-2022) and Amandaland marks Philippa’s best-known role, you may also recognise her from The Walshes (2014), Derry Girls (2019-2022), This Is Going To Hurt (2022), and Bodies (2023).
Joanna Lumley as Felicity
Amanda’s (Lucy Punch) gin-loving mother Felicity truly believes that she can solve all of her problems with money. And to be fair, a lot of time she’s absolutely right. Like her daughter, there’s plenty to dislike about Felicity, but even more to love about her.
National treasure Dame Joanna Lumley started her career as a model which led to small acting roles in films like On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) – yes, Dame Jo has been a Bond girl – as well as Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) and Shirley Valentine (1989). More recent film roles of Joanna’s include Aunt Emma in The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), Mary Rawlinson in Me Before You (2016), and Felicity Fanshaw in Paddington 2 (2017).
When it comes to TV, Joanna is no less prolific. Of course she’s probably best known for her BAFTA Award-winning portrayal of Patsy Stone in Absolutely Fabulous (1992-1996, 2001-2004, 2011-2012), but you may also recognise her from Coronation Street (1973), The New Avengers (1976-1977), Sapphire & Steel (1979-1982), Class Act (1994-1995), Up in Town (2002), Sensitive Skin (2005-2007), Fool Me Once (2024), The Room in the Tower (2025), and Wednesday (2025-present).
Samuel Anderson as Mal
Mal and Amanda’s (Lucy Punch) deeply buried romance continues in series two of Amandaland, but in truth there’s more chemistry between Mal and his ex-partner’s new husband (confusing) JJ (Ekow Quartey) as the pair develop something of an unlikely bromance.
Samuel Anderson’s latest TV appearance as the American Aidan in The Walsh Sisters (2025) threw a lot of his fans who have come to know and love Samuel for all his iconic British roles like Ross Kirk in Emmerdale (2007-2009), Fingers in Gavin & Stacey (2007, 2009, 2024), DC Vince Grady in DCI Banks (2011-2016), Danny Pink in Doctor Who (2014), Daniel Wilson in Trollied (2014-2017), Patrick in Witless (2016-2018), DC Paul Wilkie in Landscapers (2021), and Matt Blake in Shetland (2025).
Siobhán McSweeney as Della
No-nonsense Nella is the constantly exasperated wife of Fi (Rochenda Sandall). Thanks to both Fi’s dependence on her and her tasking job as a chef, Nella is constantly stressed – and doesn’t hide it especially well.
Although Siobhán McSweeney is probably best known for her BAFTA Award-winning role as Sister Michael in Derry Girls (2018-2022), you may also recognise the Irish actress from The Fall (2013-2014), No Offence (2015), Redemption (2022), Extraordinary (2023-2024), and Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue (2025).
Siobhán also works as a TV presenter hosting both The Great Pottery Throw Down (2021-present) and the latest iteration of The Traitors aka The Traitors Ireland (2025-present).
Rochenda Sandall as Fi
Fi is a great mum, a great friend, and a great wife to Nella (Siobhán McSweeney), but who exactly is she when she’s left to her own devices? We’re not sure even she knows…
Since making her acting debut in an episode of Doctors in 2013, Rochenda Sandall has appeared in shows like Love, Lies and Records (2017), Line of Duty (2019), Criminal: UK (2019-2020), Doctor Who (2021), Hijack (series one in 2023), The Rig (2023-2025), and the third series of The Teacher (2026). And later this year you’ll be able to spot her in the Gemma Arterton-led Secret Service as Melissa Morris.
Rochenda is currently dating fellow actor Mark Stanley – whose recent credits include Under Salt Marsh and Adolescence – after first meeting at the East 15 Acting School in London. They reportedly began dating in 2008 and have worked together on multiple occasions including on Criminal: UK and Love, Lies and Records.
Ekow Quartey as JJ
Despite being stepfather to Ned and the new husband of Abs (Harriet Webb), JJ and Mal (Samuel Anderson) – Ned’s father and Abs’ ex – strike up something of a bromance this series.
As well as a prolific stage career, Ekow Quartey has had roles in plenty of popular TV shows including Joel Aidoo in Call the Midwife (2019), James in This Way Up (2019-2021), Steve in Trying (2022), and Mark in Smothered (2023).
Harriet Webb as Abs
A new addition to the cast this series, Abs is the (prepare yourself) ex-partner of Mal (Samuel Anderson), wife of JJ (Ekow Quartey) and mother of Ned, who finds herself on the wrong side of Amanda (Lucy Punch) thanks to her no-nonsense attitude and brutal honesty.
Comedy actress Harriet Webb is probably best known for her roles as Cousin Shannon in Big Boys (2022-2025) and Kirsty in Mr. Bigstuff (2024-present), but you may also recognise her from White Gold (2017-2019), Scarborough (2019), Sandylands (2020-2021), The Tower (2021-2024), and Wreck (2022-present).
How is Amandaland related to Motherland?
Amanda (Lucy Punch) is a character that originated on Motherland back in 2016. When that hit series finished with a Christmas special in 2022, it was announced that Amanda would be getting her own spin-off called Amandaland.
Characters that have starred in both Motherland and Amandaland include Lucy Punch’s Amanda, Philippa Dunne’s Anne, and Joanna Lumley’s Felicity.
Who created Amandaland?
Whilst Motherland was created by Sharon Horgan, Graham Linehan, Helen Serafinowicz, and Holly Walsh, Amandaland has a slightly different team behind it. Whilst Holly Walsh and Helen Serafinowicz are back on writing duty, Graham and Sharon have been replaced by Barunka O’Shaughnessy and Laurence Rickard – the latter of whom actually stars in the show as a teacher at the kids’ school. Sharon Horgan does serve as a producer via her company Merman though.
Interestingly Simon Bird of The Inbetweeners fame has directed several episodes of Amandaland.
Where is Amandaland filmed?
Despite being set in South Harlesden in the London borough of Brent, Amandaland is actually filmed slightly further East near Highbury and Islington.
The outside of Amanda’s (Lucy Punch) house is filmed on Ferntower Road, whilst the school that Manus and Georgie go to is actually Oaklands School Sixth Form in Tower Hamlets.
When and where does Amandaland S2 air?
Series two of Amandaland returns to BBC1 and BBC iPlayer on Wednesday 6 May.
Daisy Hall became a writer for TVChoice after realising that she could make a career out of her incredible ability to extensively name an actor's credits when they randomly pop up in whatever she's watching. Her friends find it infuriating, but hopefully you find it useful!