Reunion with Motherland's Paul Ready as he and Sue Johnston join cast

 The Royle Family star Sue Johnston and Motherland’s Paul Ready have joined the cast of Diane Morgan’s new BBC One sitcom Ann Droid.

Filming has just started on the series, about a robot created to keep elderly people company and monitor their health.

It is set in 2029 with Johnston playing widow Sue, left alone when her son, Michael (Ready) moves out to try and fix his marriage - again. 

But he’s got Sue a surprise to help her live independently: a second hand AnnDroid Z58/100 Basic Eldercare Robot called Linda, played by fellow Motherland star Morgan.

Producers say: ‘It’s Sue’s worst nightmare. An overly attentive, socially inept pain in the arse. But she soon works out she can use the droid to her benefit in settling scores and doing the things her son never gets round to. 

‘What develops is a buddy comedy between an older woman and her robot who isn’t quite as advanced socially as she is technically.’

Morgan wrote the six-part series with fellow comic Sarah Kendall, and it is being made by Am I Being Unreasonable? producers Boffola with Morgan’s own production company Witchcraft Industries.

Johnston said: ‘I’m thrilled to be back in the heart of BBC comedy, Diane and Sarah have created a comedy that will resonate with lots of different audiences, for different reasons and I cannot wait to get started.’

And Ready added: ‘I don’t know much, but I do know that if you get a chance to work with Diane Morgan, you take it. Immediately! Can’t wait to be reunited and bring Michael to life in her brilliant comic series."

Ann Droid is still currently a working title.

Made by: Boffola Pictures and Witchcraft Industries
Written by: Diane Morgan and Sarah Kendall
Series producer: Pippa Brown
Directed by: Joe Roberts
Executive producers: Shane Allen, Diane Morgan and Pippa Brown
Commissioned by: BBC director of comedy Jon Petrie
Commissioning editors: Seb Barwell and Navi Lamba

Published: 14 Oct 2025