Motherland, BBC2, review: Long may the reign of the yummy – and slummy – mummies continue

Julia found herself at the centre of a nit outbreak at school as the middle-class parenting sitcom returned for a third series

It’s surprising that it has taken until the third series for Motherland to tackle nits – an infestation feared by parents and teachers alike. The outbreak at school was introduced via a trite, Boris Johnson-esque conference, complete with the three-word slogan – “Comb > Shampoo > Comb” – and a slideshow of graphs presented by an expert from the Lice Po-lice.

Thankfully the coronavirus comparisons ended there, and we were transported back into a world unspoiled by masks and social distancing. The mums – and Kevin (Paul Ready) – met at the school gates doused in nit solution, all except the permanently frazzled Julia (Anna Maxwell Martin) who naively reassured the gang that she had already done a nit treatment last half term. Queen bee Amanda (Lucy Punch), flanked by her sidekick Anne (Philippa Dunne) quickly fingered her family as patient zero for the second wave.

Terrified of not being able to palm her kids off at a trampolining birthday party, Julia invited everyone over to her house for a delousing party. It was here that the episode really took off, with rumours and secrets ignoring Julia’s strict one-way system and flying about all over the place.

Anne was revealed to be pregnant again (not, as Amanda had thought, depressed, though, she said, “it’s almost cool to be mental now”), while Kevin told the gang he and his miserable, off-screen wife Jill would finally be getting divorced (long- term viewers will be delighted to hear he locked her in the attic in a fit of uncharacteristic rage).

Read More - Featured Image

The joke rate was 10 to the dozen, with each quip and sarcastic retort forcing a different type of laugh – appreciative giggles to full-on roars.

The introduction of a more momentous and potentially devastating storyline only served to cement the calamity of middle-class parenting further in reality. Even then, the jokes didn’t stop. “Who gives a shit if we’re all riddled with lice?” asked a newly despondent Julia, to which Amanda replied: “I do.”

Long may the reign of the yummy – and slummy – mummies continue.

Struggling to find your next favourite TV series?

The i on TV newsletter is a daily email full of suggestions of what to watch as well as the latest TV news, opinions and interviews. Sign up here to stay up to date with the best new TV.

Most Read By Subscribers