Motherland

Series 2 - Episode 3 Mother's Load

Review

by David Butcher

Ineffectual dad Kevin is pushed to the limit this week. Paul Ready does such a great job of playing a wimpish new man, it’s easy to forget he was equally good playing a sinister thug. (Remember him in a yellow suit in Utopia?).

Kevin gets involved in raising money for new goalposts at the school. As he explains to Liz, “The kids have done their self-portraits and we’re going to print them on tea towels and sell them to ourselves.” If there has been a better summing-up of primary school fundraising, I haven’t heard it.

While he frazzles, hideous Amanda takes on an assistant at her shop (“Don’t put all the biscotti jars out at once…”) – and we see her vulnerable side.

Summary

Julia finds that working from home is impossible due to all the tasks she has to do for her family. Meg tells her this is her `Mother's Load' - all the things that no-one else will do, but need to be done to keep the home running. Julia removes herself to the cafe to work, but even there finds it's not that easy to get motivated. A possible solution presents itself when she shares a table with a fellow freelancer, but is Julia taking advantage of him? Meanwhile, much to her surprise, Liz finds herself bored to tears when her youngest starts nursery and she is alone during the day, and Kevin has problems when he takes on responsibility for a school fund-raising project.

Cast & Crew

Julia Anna Maxwell Martin

Liz Diane Morgan

Kevin Paul Ready

Leon Michael Abubakar

Paul Oliver Chris

Mrs Lamb Jackie Clune

Anne Philippa Dunne

Rose Lily Frazer

Nick Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

Meg Tanya Moodie

Johnny Terry Mynott

Lesley Pamela Nomvete

Amanda Lucy Punch

Nursery worker Jayne Aguire

Director Juliet May

Executive Producer Clelia Mountford

Executive Producer Sharon Horgan

Producer Sam Pinnell

Writer Sharon Horgan

Writer Helen Linehan

Writer Barunka O'Shaughnessy

Writer Holly Walsh

Sitcom

Full Episode Guide

When is Motherland season 3 on TV?

Sharon Horgan's comedy about parenting and Alpha Mums is back for a third (school) run

Accessibility Links

Series 2 - Episode 3 Mother's Load

Review

Summary

Cast & Crew

When is Motherland season 3 on TV?

BBC Two has renewed Sharon Horgan’s Motherland

Milly Thomas: 'I expected to be objectified as an actor - but never as a writer'

Inside No 9 to film live episode for Halloween

Sharon Horgan talks Catastrophe series four, Carrie Fisher and Game Night

Sharon Horgan signs exclusive deal with Amazon – but Channel 4’s Catastrophe is safe

Radio Times Top 40 TV Shows of 2017: 30 to 21

What time is Motherland on TV?

Motherland

Series 2 - Episode 3 Mother's Load

Review

Summary

Cast & Crew

When is Motherland season 3 on TV?

BBC Two has renewed Sharon Horgan’s Motherland

Milly Thomas: 'I expected to be objectified as an actor - but never as a writer'

Inside No 9 to film live episode for Halloween

Sharon Horgan talks Catastrophe series four, Carrie Fisher and Game Night

Sharon Horgan signs exclusive deal with Amazon – but Channel 4’s Catastrophe is safe

Radio Times Top 40 TV Shows of 2017: 30 to 21

What time is Motherland on TV?

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