
Amandaland review – a rare chance to laugh so hard you wee yourself
Amandaland begins, in time-honoured Motherland fashion, under pressure on the school run. Except we're not in Chiswick – we're now in south Harlesden, Amanda is driving a Tesla for ever on the brink of running out of battery, and Georgie and Manus, who aren't so little any more, have been forced to move school after the collapse of Mummy's ruthlessly Hygge-Tygge'd life. Cue a pep talk by the worst, by which I mean the best, Motherland mother of all. 'I'm a people person,' says Amanda. 'And historically our people are people people. So get out there and find your people!'
Ah, it's good to be back in hell. Spin-offs are always a risk, but Lucy Punch's Amanda was a sure bet. Sorry, team Liz, but she was the best character in Motherland: the ideal Sharon-Horgan-sharpened instrument for impaling the worstexcesses, blind spots and hypocrisies of the posh, white, west London middle classes. By the end of the third and last series, Amanda had perversely become the cruel heart of the show. I felt actual compassion for her when she did that dance at the PTA fundraiser that got 400 TikTok likes. Weird, I know, but that's what satire at its most skewering can do. It makes you care.
Amandaland is created and written by the Motherland team Holly Walsh, Helen Serafinowicz and Barunka O'Shaughnessy, with Horgan credited as creator. More of the same, then, which is a compliment, because it's not as though the schedules are teeming with laser-sharp satirical sitcoms about vaginal mesh. Thus from the ashes of W4 Amanda rises to become the 'queen of SoHa'. Because, according to Amanda, that's what property experts are calling south Harlesden. 'You mean that area around Wormwood prison?' asks Anne (Philippa Dunne). There's lots to love, she prattles on, about the new school … the Stem hub, rock choir; they say the torture scene from A Clockwork Orange was filmed in the playground. Amanda: 'I'm actually glad I took the kids out of private school. They've got way more chance of getting into Oxbridge from a bog-standard state.' When the writing is this good, it fizzes with the hysterical energy of perimenopause.
So no Julia, Liz or Kevin, then – at least not in the first four episodes – but Anne, happily, features heavily. The relationship between her and Amanda is toxic and codependent, but also, you have to concede, kind of sweet. The same goes for the narcissism-powered dynamic between Amanda and her mother, Felicity, played with Ab Fab levels of relish by Joanna Lumley. In episode one, she arrives with a tuck parcel from Waitrose, 'now that you've only got a Tesco Metro'. There's white wine, Earl Grey chocolates for the children and goji berries for Amanda. 'That actually will be really nice for my bircher muesli,' Amanda says. 'Still doing breakfast?' Felicity bats back with a sneer.
There are lots of new characters, some more successful than others. More men reside in Amandaland (in Motherland, they were mostly noticeable by their absence), but they are less convincingly drawn than the women. Where it's best is in setting up bog-standard, thoroughly British, inherently absurd scenarios – the car boot sale! The parents' evening! – in which to carefully insert the characters so everyone reveals their worst side.
Take episode one, when Amanda tries to befriend SoHa lesbian power couple Della (Siobhán McSweeney, in fine brusque fettle) and Fi (Rochenda Sandall) at their house party. Della is the head chef at Shin, the small-plates restaurant beside the megachurch that used to be Debenhams; Fi is worryingly into wicker basketry. Together, they possess an alarmingly relaxed approach to parenting. 'I trained in France,' says Della, right before the teenagers get hammered on armagnac and the grownups eat artisan chocolates laced with magic mushrooms in the hot tub. 'Oh, I love the whole 'du pain, du vin, du Boursin' thang,' Amanda replies.
The gags – about Gloria Hunniford, the Just Seventeen problem page and Sinn Féin – are very British and aimed at a very particular audience, namely strung out middle-aged mums longing to laugh until they wee a bit at jokes about wellness supplements. Too rarely do we get the chance.
Ultimately, though, this is Amanda's show. Her descent from alpha west London mummy to single mother carrying a mood board on a bike (the Tesla doesn't make it) to sell waste disposal units is uproarious, but also unexpectedly moving.
This is largely due to Punch's comic timing and earnest delivery of killer lines such as: 'I'm actually reclaiming the word 'simpleton'.' But it's also down to the unforgiving terrain of Amandaland, which is to say our land. Amanda may be a narcissistic vortex who has had to invent a new word – 'senuous' – to capture her essence, but she is also a mother, who is alone, unmothered, unravelling and yet refusing to loosen her grip on a world designed to break her. And that, tragically and comically, will always be relatable.
Sign up to What's On
Get the best TV reviews, news and features in your inbox every Monday
after newsletter promotion
Amandaland airs on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Mum shares Appleby haul with ‘Gucci sliders' & fake Chanel – as people say she'd ‘absolutely love Turkey'
THOUSANDS of travellers gathered for Appleby Horse Fair as the annual event kicked off last week. Tens of thousands of visitors flooded into the historic market town of Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria, ahead of the festivities. 5 5 5 The six-day event typically features traditional music, dancing, horse riding, market stalls and horse sales. Horsemen and women were seen riding their horses in the nearby River Eden as part of a long-held tradition. Amongst the visitors was also mum Sinead Smith who managed to drive home with a mega haul of cut-price knock-offs, including fake Gucci sliders for just a tenner - and more. Sinead, who is 28, has been going to the event ''every year'' and last week's festivities saw her bag numerous goodies. The mum shared the epic haul on TikTok, showing off knock-offs of the on-trend New Balance trainers for just £20 - around four times cheaper than the real deal. ''I bought everything on Sunday morning because they bring the prices down,'' Sinead explained in the video, adding that the trainers were originally going for £35. The mega haul also included stunning gym sets in sage and baby blue, which looked like a Lululemon fake. While the posh jacket alone would set you back more than £100, Sinead said she paid ''£70 for the lot''. Chuffed with the wallet-friendly finds, the bargain-mad mother also showed off knock-offs for Nike trainers that cost her just a tenner, a few pairs of ''Gucci sandals'' going for £10, as well as gold Louis Vuitton-style sliders. ''£25 - I paid a tenner for them,'' Sinead said. I've found the best little-known store for designer bargains - there's Gucci, Louboutins, Versace and more for cheap Meanwhile, the real ''star of the show'' was the ''matching'' Chanel knock-off purse. ''All weekend I'd wanted a version of this and I'd seen them but they were like £120, £110. ''I think the cheapest I seen was £70 and I thought 'It's not too bad but I still don't want to pay that for a fake bag'.'' Is it Illegal to Buy 'Designer' Dupes in Turkey? In Turkey, buying counterfeit goods is generally considered illegal. If you buy a counterfeit product for personal use, you're unlikely to be prosecuted against - unless your purchase involves a significant quantity or the intent to resell. Customs authorities have the power to stop and seize counterfeit goods entering or leaving Turkey. That means they can stop you upon your return home and seize any designer dupes you've bought on holiday. Luckily for the bargain hunter, who posts under the username @ sineadsmithx1, she then spotted a man who was selling the bag for £60 - but her partner managed to bag the stylish purse for just £40. ''I couldn't believe it, it's absolutely beautiful and I love it.'' Pleased with the goodies she went home with, Sinead dubbed the horse hair ''dupe central''. ''There's about 100/150 stalls at Appleby. Something for everyone, it is great.'' 'You'd absolutely love Turkey' Sinead's bargain haul has clearly left many open-mouthed, as the video has racked up close to 200k views in just two days. More than 120 people flooded to comments, where one joked: ''I tell you what , you'd absolutely love Turkey.'' The popular holiday destination has long been regarded as the 'capital of fakes' among Brits looking to rock designer styles for the price of a coffee. A quick four hour flight could land you in a bustling market flogging 'Gucci belts' for £3 and Louis 'Fuitton' handbags for £20. Another visitor chimed in: ''There was some lovely stuff there just the rain was a downer.'' Someone else said: ''I never knew Appleby sells like clothes n that. Might have to go next year.'' ''Lovely stuff, I went to Appleby years ago and had an amazing time,'' a viewer penned. 5 5


The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Can these five viral TikTok fashion gadgets REALLY solve every wardrobe crisis from fabric shaver to stretch belt?
TIKTOK is a goldmine for hacks - and right now, it's overflowing with gadgets that claim to solve every wardrobe crisis. As a fashion assistant, I'm no stranger to quick-fixes. I've always got a safety pin and double-sided tape in my bag - ready to rescue a hem, a neckline, or a stubborn zip. 11 With over a million videos under #fashionhacks, my feed is full of weird and wonderful gizmos promising to make fashion mishaps a thing of the past. But are any of them actually worth your money? Here, I put them to the test to see which really work. Mini Stitch Gun, £15.99, Amazon Being petite myself with a fuller bust, finding clothes that fit just right can be a challenge. The Mini Stitch gun first caught my attention on TikTok, where fans of the product hailed it as the 'ultimate fashion hack'. One video of the gun had over 41.5k views. It works by inserting a small, removable plastic stitch to hold fabric in place, perfect for closing button gaps, hiding bra straps, or temporarily hemming jeans. I was impressed by how quick and easy this is to use. This particular kit included helpful step by step picture instructions, five needle replacements and lots of extra fastenings plus a handy travel case. There's no need to apply a lot of pressure, you simply squeeze the trigger and the stitch is in. The stitch is made of plastic so it feels secure and holds all day. Although it was visible close up, it didn't show in photos. Nobody mentioned to me they could see it. This is a game changer for my wardrobe. Rating: 8/10 Impressed customers film themselves using the Philips GCO26 Fabric Shaver which has racked up over 1,000 five-star Amazon reviews Fabric Shaver, £9.99, Phillips 11 11 Electric fabric shavers had a big moment a few years ago, and the buzz is back… pun intended. They became popular during Covid-19 as people took more of an interest in extending the lifespan of their clothes. I've only ever tried a super cheap one from the Poundshop, so I decided to give the more pricey £9.99 Phillips version a try. This one in particular was described as 'magic' by one user on TikTok, with another calling it a 'game changer'. One video recommending the model in question has also racked up over 50.3k views. It comes with picture instructions and 2 AA batteries. The cover for inserting batteries slides off without much effort but does stay put during use. Quite a few Tiktok users commented that it's important to remove the plastic cap, with some forgetting to do so and not finding it as effective. But once it's off, it's easy to use. Simply flick the on switch and gently glide the shaver over any bobbles to remove them. It's really effective and better than anything I've used before. Gone are the days of washing a jumper once and being ruined by dreaded bobbles, plus it works on sofas and soft furnishings too. Rating: 10/10 Reusable Plush Roller, £5.99 (for 2), Amazon 11 In theory, this sticky roller is a brilliant idea, eliminating the need for disposable lint sheets. These ones were £5.99 for two on Amazon but I've seen them for as little as £1 each on Tiktok shop. Sadly the low price is reflected in the product quality. The plastic case broke almost immediately after I took them out of the packaging. That said, it does still do the job. Simply roll the sticky pad over your clothes and it picks up any unwanted dust, fluff and hair really easily. The adhesive pad is super sticky so it really clings to everything. To clear it, you just rinse the pad under water. You are supposed to remove it from the case, but I struggled to do this in fear of breaking it as it's so flimsy. The biggest problem I found was drying it. You can't use a towel or cloth as it's so sticky that it just gathers more dust. While it comes with its frustrations, I do think it's worth having. With a little product development, it could be a useful tool to have around the house. Rating: 5/10 No Sew Jean Button, from £2.50 for 2, Amazon 11 11 Oversized jeans have been the must have style for a few seasons, and as much as I love the relaxed look, I still want my jeans to fit properly around my waist. I always fall between sizes so shopping for the perfect pair is a real struggle. Thankfully, I (or rather TikTok) has found the perfect solution with these genius removable no-sew buttons. They come screwed together, and whilst it takes a little force to pull both pieces apart (especially with nails - and mine aren't exactly long), that does mean they won't budge once screwed in place. To use, you push the pin through where you want the new button to go, snap the backing piece in from the back to create a new button and a tighter waistband. Plus, they're reusable, so if your size does fluctuate, like mine, you can easily move them without damaging your jeans. They come in gold and silver and there are many designs to choose from. Although slightly fiddly, once you get the hang of it, they're such a smart, budget friendly alternative to buying new jeans. Elastic Stretch Belt, £8.95 for 2, Amazon 11 TikTokers deem this elastic belt to be the best solution for achieving the 'perfect tuck'. If you struggle with tucking and cropping your T-shirts and jumpers, or even if you have a top that's too long and, when tucked in, creates an unflattering bulky look around your waist, this product is designed to eliminate the problem. The adjustable band fixes around your waist, allowing you to securely tuck your top into it. The clasp is easy to use and the two pack includes a black and a white version, which is a plus, as they will work with any outfit. I was skeptical about this one, and personally I don't think it's worth nearly £9. Sure, it helps create a clean tuck, but the elastic was very uncomfortable around my waist after a few hours of wear. I think a regular belt could do the job just as well and would probably look nicer too. VERDICT Not every TikTok gadget lived up to the hype, but a few stood out as genuinely smart solutions. I'll definitely be adding a couple of them to my styling kit, as well as my own personal wardrobe. Some of these affordable devices have proven to make a real difference, especially to those who favour convenience without compromising on style. I was especially impressed with the pricing of the products too. These are all budget-friendly alternatives to visiting a tailor or buying brand new products. So if you're navigating fluctuating sizes or want to refresh your favourite jumpers, these trending tools actually prove that most of the time, TikTok hacks do deliver.


Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Love Island beauty reveals terrifying ordeal after she's followed by man and forced to flee screaming
LOVE Island star Patsy Field has revealed a terrifying ordeal in which she was forced to flee in terror after being followed by a man near her home. The star, who rose to fame on last summer's edition of the ITV2 dating series, took to TikTok to reveal the worrying encounter in which she actively described how she was pursued by a man who appeared to be following her. 4 Love Islander Patsy Field has shared his distressing experience of being followed by a man Credit: TikTok / @patsyfield 4 The TV star was forced to flee in terror after her safety was compromised Credit: Rex Patsy told her followers that she had decided to head out for a walk in her local area in Bromley shortly after 8pm at night in order to walk off being "full of steak" after a plush family meal at Miller and Carter. She told how her mum had discouraged her from walking late at night but Patsy insisted she was fine as she had never had problems in her area being out on her own but did confess to her fans that where she lives gets a "bad rep". Patsy continued in the clip as she said: "I'd got an outfit on which could be a bit revealing but like I said, I'd never had any issues before. "I've always felt safe where I'm from." Detailing how she then went for the walk, she realised that ten minutes in there was a man walking close by. Although she did not interact with him, Patsy told her followers that she decided to cross the road to be safe after being left concerned by how close the man was to her. She then said: "I give it a couple of steps on the other side of the road and I thought, I'll just check and I turn around and he's crossed the road." Although this unsettled Patsy, she once again tried to give the benefit of the doubt by explaining that the man could have also crossed due to the parked cars at the side of the road. In order to be sure, Patsy then told how she crossed back over the road once more and to her utter disbelief, the man once again followed suit. Confessing she went into a panic, she decided to stand still and look at her phone, causing the man to pass her and walk ahead. 'It was years in the making' admits Love Island's Patsy Field as she breaks silence after Joey Essex revealed he WAS a producer plant However, things took a more sinister turn when the man in question eventually turned back around and walked back along the path in Patsy's direction. Patsy said: "He starts walking back towards me and I'm like what the f*** is going on." Revealing she was still stood in the same place, she felt unnerved when the man made clear eye contact with her. Fearing what could happen next, a panicked Patsy revealed she began to scream out loud and run in the opposite direction. She also began to phone her mum who was able to come and collect her as she was close-by to the family home. In a heartbreaking admission, the reality star said: "Now I'm scared to walk around my own area which is a shame as I've never had an issue before." Patsy first became known for her stint on Love Island last year. She had an early exit in the series but returned for one of the show's final episodes to be a part of the programme's savage dumping - determined by the ex-Islanders. 4 She shared a TikTok video about her experiences Credit: TikTok / @patsyfield