Ann Droid, Diane Morgan’s brand-new sitcom (co-written with Taskmaster star Sarah Kendall), has jumped up to the number two spot in BBC iPlayer’s most popular top 10. The comedy series, which Morgan stars in alongside The Royle Family and Downton Abbey icon Sue Johnston, premiered on Friday, and viewers were quick to get behind it.
Audience members described it as “funny” yet “deeply touching”, with praise also being extended to Ann Droid’s central “top notch” performances. Digital Spy’s five-star review branded it a “must watch”, noting that Ann Droid “will have you in absolute stitches with its daft silliness”.
There’s a lot of heart too though, as the comedy series is also “brilliantly insightful” and “explores humanity’s growing relationship with AI and our increasing dependency on technology.”
BBC
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Set in 2029, Ann Droid centres on the character of Sue (Johnston). After the death of her husband, and with the news that her son (played by Motherland’s Paul Ready) is moving out, she gets a new companion delivered to her – a care robot called Linda (Morgan).
As well as winning over viewers, Ann Droid has been widely well-received by critics. The Guardian‘s review also awarded five stars, describing the series as “wonderful”. The publication also said: “It’s silly, singular and occasionally tearjerking: this tale of a mechanical companion to an elderly widow is shot through with love and care”.
The Telegraph named it a “surprisingly poignant robot comedy”, while Financial Times argued: “What could have been pure farce is tempered with poignancy and pathos, particularly when it comes to the loneliness of later life.”
Johnston was described as the “beating heart” of the show by her co-star Morgan, who also later told Digital Spy and other media that the series will resonate with different people on many levels.
BBC
“[The story] bleeds into all those things. Grief and loneliness, your parents ageing and technology,” the co-creator explained. “There’s all this stuff that people can relate to hopefully.”
The six-part series is available in full as a box set, ripe for a binge-watch experience, and will continue to air on Friday nights on BBC One in the coming weeks, if you prefer to tune in that way.
Ann Droid is streaming now on BBC iPlayer.
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TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK’s biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world’s oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).