Motherland season 3: When does it start? Who are the cast? All you need to know about the return of the parenting comedy

Motherland is back with another season of school run nightmares and just-about-getting-away-with-it parenting.

The BBC sitcom returns for season 3 on Monday, May 10 and fans can look forward to episodes about everything from nit outbreaks to school trips.

Created by a writing team including Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe), Helen Serafinowicz (Look Around You) and Holly Walsh (The Other One), the series has been described by critics as “borderline revolutionary”, “the funniest show currently screening on television” and doing for motherhood “what Catastrophe did for marriage”.

And there’s also an absolutely fabulous guest star appearance as Amanda’s (Lucy Punch) glamorous mum is revealed.

Here is everything you need to know about the new series...

How to watch Motherland

Motherland season1-3 are now available on BBC iPlayer.

Season 3 episodes air weekly at 9pm on BBC Two on Mondays.

It airs before the new season of Inside No.9, which follows at 9.30pm.

Season 1-2 are also available on Netflix.

Who is in the cast?

Mums and dads Julia (Anna Maxwell Martin), Liz (Diane Morgan), Meg (Tanya Moodie), Kevin (Paul Ready), Anne (Philippa Dunne) and Amanda (Lucy Punch) will all return for new adventures at the school gate and stressful parenting pitfalls.

They will also be joined in season 3 by Joanna Lumley - the Absolutely Fabulous icon will play Amanda’s mum.

“It was a special treat to pitch up again as another fairly poisonous parent in Motherland,” said Lumley.

“Although I was only in for a day it was the greatest fun to be with that dangerously talented cast."

What can fans expect in the new series?

We’ve got five episodes in season 3, which follows on from the Christmas special at the end of 2020.

The first episode back finds the parents battling a nit pandemic at school, with Julia standing accused of triggering a second wave.

A BBC preview of episode 1 reveals:

“Ostracised by the other Mums, Julia needs to find a way back into their good books so she throws a nit treatment party that brings everyone’s drama (and headlice) into her home.

“The party reveals that Anne (Philippa Dunne) has some big news, Meg (Tanya Moodie) is facing a crisis, and Kevin (Paul Ready) has committed a terrible crime of passion. As Amanda (Lucy Punch) super spreads the gossip, Liz (Diane Morgan) waits for news about a career move.”

Episode two will feature the struggling parents taking on the challenge of choosing a secondary school and Julia considering faking a religion after discovering her catchment area.

And episode three will focus on Mothers' Day, which means a passive aggressive lunch with her mother Felicity (Joanna Lumley) for Amanda (Lucy Punch) and an awkward driving lesson for Kevin as he tries to avoids the day altogether.

Reviews and Twitter reaction

Critics have been celebrating the third season of the BBC comedy as its finest to date.

"Motherland’s return has to be one of its best series yet, stuffed with joke after joke, character development and outstanding performances from its seasoned cast," said the Radio Times.

"A hugely entertaining watch that I’ll be definitely be bingeing a second time."

The Evening Standard wrote: "Handled differently, a comedy about a group of middle-class Acton mums could have been unbearably twee, but with its acutely observed characters, knockout cast and knack for wringing hilarity from the most banal of events, Motherland is an unhinged delight, by turns savage and sweet."

The Independent wrote: "Probably the best news since you got your appointment for The Jab, Motherland is back, and back to its squirmingly socially embarrassed best."

Fans on Twitter were equally excited and overjoyed by the start of season 3:

Watch this if you liked...

Mum, Catastrophe, Outnumbered,  Breeders, This Way Up.

Watch Motherland season 3 on Mondays at 9pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

Season 1-2 are also available on BBC iPlayer and Netflix.