Ann Droid

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British comedy television series

For the Doctor Who character Anne Droid, see Bad Wolf.

Ann Droid

First series poster

GenreSitcom
Created by
Written by
  • Diane Morgan
  • Sarah Kendall
Directed byJoseph Roberts
Starring
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producers
  • Shane Allen
  • Diane Morgan
  • Pippa Brown
  • Seb Barwell
  • Navi Lamba
ProducerPippa Brown
CinematographyJames Blann
EditorMark Williams
Running time28 minutes
Production companies
  • Boffola Pictures
  • Witchcraft Industries
Original release
NetworkBBC One
Release17 July 2026 (2026-07-17) –
present

Ann Droid is a British sitcom created and written by Diane Morgan and Sarah Kendall that premiered on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on 17 July 2026. It stars Morgan, Sue Johnston and Paul Ready.

The series is set in 2029 and follows Sue, a widow whose husband died 18 months earlier, and her new android assistant robot, Linda. Linda is a second-hand AnnDroid Z58/100 Basic Eldercare Robot given to Sue by her son, Michael, who is moving out of the house to try to fix his marriage.[1][2]

Cast and characters

[edit]

The six-part series is written by Sarah Kendall and Diane Morgan, with Morgan also taking the lead role as humanoid robot Linda, and Kendall playing the delivery driver Cass. It is produced by Boffola Pictures and Witchcraft Industries. Shane Allen is executive producer with Morgan and Pippa Brown, who is also series producer.[8][9] Joseph Roberts directed the series.[10]

Filming on the series had commenced by October 2025.[11] Filming locations included Hemel Hempstead and Southend-on-Sea.[12][13]

The series debuted on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on 17 July 2026.[14][15]

The Daily Mirror called it "a grief comedy". Jen Pharo wrote: "Diane [Morgan] was inspired to write the series after reading about robot carers in Japan and also by her own mum. ... Ann Droid has lots of laughs and lots of heart."[16]

Rachel Aroesti of The Guardian wrote: "Ann Droid is worth raving about on its own terms – it’s rambunctiously funny and exceptionally poignant ... I cried at least once per episode. ... In less capable hands, Ann Droid’s dramatic arc could have been a tough sell. Set a handful of years into the future, it sees many frightening predictions around AI come true: robots are decimating the job market, and Sue’s son Michael ... is eventually made redundant by a machine. Yet he’s so lazy, selfish and useless it’s hard to feel sorry for him. This is a world where robots are loyal and egoless, while the humans (Sue aside) are crushing disappointments."[17] Hannah J Davies, also of The Guardian, awarded the programme five stars out of five, describing it as "wonderfully fresh and funny" and "shot through with love and care."[18] Writing for the Radio Times, James Hibbs called the series "pleasingly retro" and particularly highlighted Morgan's performance as a "comedic masterclass", giving the show three stars of five.[19]

  1. ↑ Mensah, Katelyn (21 May 2025). "Cunk and Motherland star Diane Morgan gets new AI-themed comedy on BBC". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 9 October 2025. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  2. ↑ Soni, Divya (12 October 2025). "Motherland stars reunite for "brilliant" new BBC sitcom". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 11 May 2026. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "BBC One - Ann Droid, Series 1, Episode 1". BBC. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "BBC One - Ann Droid, Series 1, Episode 2". BBC. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "BBC One - Ann Droid, Series 1, Episode 3". BBC. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "BBC One - Ann Droid, Series 1, Episode 5". BBC. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  7. 1 2 "BBC One - Ann Droid, Series 1, Episode 6". BBC. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "Diane Morgan sitcom Ann Droid coming to BBC One". Comedy.co.uk. 21 May 2025. Archived from the original on 21 May 2025. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  9. ↑ "Diane Morgan to play a robot in AI sitcom". Chortle. 21 May 2025. Archived from the original on 22 December 2025. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  10. ↑ "BBC One - Ann Droid". BBC. Archived from the original on 18 July 2026. Retrieved 17 July 2026.
  11. ↑ "Motherland stars reunite for "brilliant" new BBC sitcom - here's what fans can expect". Digital Spy. 13 October 2025. Archived from the original on 11 May 2026. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  12. ↑ Allsun, Grace; Fawehinmi, Yolanthe (20 July 2026). "Diane Morgan BBC comedy Ann Droid filmed in Hemel Hempstead". Herts Adveriser. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  13. ↑ "BBC Diane Morgan filming sitcom on Southend seafront". Southend Echo. 22 October 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  14. ↑ "Sue Johnston and Paul Ready join Diane Morgan in Ann Droid". Comedy.co.uk. 13 October 2025. Archived from the original on 13 October 2025. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  15. ↑ "Ann Droid" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  16. ↑ Pharo, Jen (7 July 2026). "Sue Johnston's star-studded robot show Ann Droid delivers poignant message about grief". Daily Mirror. London: Reach plc. Archived from the original on 18 July 2026. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
  17. ↑ Aroesti, Rachel (3 July 2026). "'Suddenly I was a celebrity. I didn't want to be!' Sue Johnston on fame, loneliness and her new robot pal". The Guardian. London: Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
  18. ↑ Davies, Hannah J (17 July 2026). "Ann Droid review – Diane Morgan and Sue Johnston's fresh, funny robot comedy is just wonderful". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  19. ↑ Hibbs, James (17 July 2026). "Ann Droid review: Diane Morgan's irreverent comedy also has an unexpected amount of heart". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 28 July 2026. Retrieved 29 July 2026.