12 Shows Like BBC’s Ann Droid to Watch Next
Subtitle: Funny, offbeat and unexpectedly touching British comedies for viewers who loved Diane Morgan’s socially awkward robot and Sue Johnston’s sharp-tongued widow.
BBC’s Ann Droid is not the kind of sitcom that is easy to match exactly. On the surface, it is a very funny story about Sue, a widowed woman given an overly attentive, socially inept eldercare robot named Linda. But the series works because it finds the humanity inside such an odd premise: grief, loneliness, independence, family frustration and the strange comfort of an unexpected friendship.
Diane Morgan’s deadpan robot performance is a huge part of the appeal, but so is the show’s unusually gentle heart. Ann Droid can be absurd one moment and quietly moving the next, all while keeping its setting rooted in recognisable suburban Britain.
The six-part BBC comedy follows Sue and her AnnDroid carer as their initially reluctant relationship becomes something more like a friendship. British Comedy Guide’s series overview describes it as a buddy comedy between an older woman and a robot who is technically advanced but socially hopeless.
The shows below do not all feature robots. Instead, they match different parts of the Ann Droid experience: Diane Morgan’s uniquely awkward comic style, unlikely friendships, warm British humour, eccentric characters and stories that sneak up on you emotionally.
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12. Here We Go (2020–Present)
Here We Go follows the Jessop family, whose everyday domestic life becomes increasingly chaotic through the lens of youngest son Sam’s home videos. It is a mockumentary-style comedy about family arguments, disastrous plans and people doing their best despite very little evidence that they know what they are doing.
Like Ann Droid, it finds comedy in recognisable British homes rather than exaggerated sitcom worlds. The characters are frustrating, odd and often spectacularly bad at communication, but the show’s affection for them keeps the chaos enjoyable.
Why Ann Droid fans will like it: A warm, cringe-adjacent family comedy about ordinary people dealing with very messy lives.
Best for: Viewers who enjoy suburban British humour and chaotic family dynamics.
Where to watch: BBC iPlayer in the UK; availability varies elsewhere.
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11. The Cleaner (2021–Present)
Greg Davies stars as Wicky, a crime-scene cleaner who becomes entangled in the strange lives of the people whose messes he is hired to erase. Each episode introduces a new situation, a new personality clash and usually a new reason for Wicky to stay much longer than he should.
The premise is darker than Ann Droid, but the central appeal is similar: a socially unpolished character stumbling into unexpected human connections. Wicky is not a robot, obviously, but his blunt honesty and lack of social finesse create the same kind of uncomfortable comedy that makes Linda so funny.
Why Ann Droid fans will like it: Awkward encounters, sharp dialogue and surprising flashes of empathy.
Best for: Fans of Greg Davies, character comedy and odd-couple conversations.
Where to watch: BBC iPlayer in the UK; availability varies elsewhere.
10. Alma’s Not Normal (2020–2024)
Written by and starring Sophie Willan, Alma’s Not Normal follows Alma, a larger-than-life woman trying to build a more stable life while navigating family trauma, friendship, romance and her own complicated instincts. It is loud, profane, funny and full of enormous heart.
The show has more edge than Ann Droid, but both series understand that comedy can be a way of talking about loneliness and survival. Alma’s relationships with her family are messy, often painful and always very human.
Why Ann Droid fans will like it: It balances absurd humour with a sincere understanding of difficult family relationships.
Best for: Viewers who want bold British comedy with real emotional depth.
Where to watch: BBC iPlayer in the UK; availability varies elsewhere.
9. Ghosts (2019–2023)
When Alison inherits a crumbling country estate, she also discovers that it is filled with ghosts from several different historical eras. Unable to see them at first, her husband thinks she has lost her mind; once she can, she has to learn to live with a house full of needy, bickering spirits.
Ghosts is much more fantastical than Ann Droid, but the tone is a strong match. Both shows use an impossible premise to explore friendship, belonging and the value of being seen. The ghosts may be dead, but their everyday concerns are delightfully familiar.
Why Ann Droid fans will like it: Eccentric characters, gentle absurdism and an unexpectedly emotional core.
Best for: Families and anyone looking for funny, comforting British fantasy.
Where to watch: BBC iPlayer in the UK; availability varies elsewhere.
8. The Change (2023–Present)
Bridget Christie writes and stars in this strange, funny comedy about Linda, a middle-aged woman who has a personal awakening after discovering she is going through menopause. She leaves her old life behind and heads to the Forest of Dean, where she meets an assortment of eccentric locals.
Like Ann Droid, The Change gives a woman later in life a story that is funny, strange and deeply interested in independence. It does not treat its lead as a side character in someone else’s life; it lets her take up space, make mistakes and rediscover what she wants.
Why Ann Droid fans will like it: A funny, original story about autonomy, ageing and unexpected self-discovery.
Best for: Viewers who enjoy offbeat comedy with a feminist edge.
Where to watch: Channel 4 in the UK; availability varies elsewhere.
For more warm and funny comfort viewing, explore 13 Feel-Good Comedies for Fall Nights.
7. After Life (2019–2022)
Ricky Gervais’s After Life follows Tony, a grieving widower whose life is changed by the death of his wife. His grief makes him angry, blunt and difficult, but the people in his small town slowly pull him back toward connection.
Diane Morgan appears as Kath, one of the series’ most memorable characters, but the deeper reason to watch is its emotional overlap with Ann Droid. Both shows take loneliness seriously and find humour in the awkward ways people try to help each other through it.
Why Ann Droid fans will like it: It mixes grief, deadpan comedy and unexpected kindness.
Best for: Viewers who want something funny but are open to a few emotional punches.
Where to watch: Netflix in many regions, subject to local catalogue availability.
6. Mum (2016–2019)
Motherland star Lesley Manville is extraordinary in this gentle, beautifully observed comedy about Cathy, a recently widowed woman trying to navigate family gatherings, old habits and the possibility of a new relationship. Each episode unfolds over a single occasion, such as a birthday or holiday meal.
Mum is quieter than Ann Droid, but it has the same compassion for an older woman reclaiming a sense of self after loss. Sue Johnston’s performance in Ann Droid will particularly resonate with viewers who appreciate Cathy’s mix of patience, sadness and dry humour.
Why Ann Droid fans will like it: A mature, tender comedy about grief, family and the possibility of moving forward.
Best for: Viewers who love emotionally subtle British sitcoms.
Where to watch: Availability varies by region; check JustWatch.
5. Humans (2015–2018)
If the robot element is what drew you to Ann Droid, Humans is the natural next step. Set in a near-future Britain where lifelike android “Synths” have become household appliances, the series explores what happens when artificial intelligence begins to develop emotions, memories and a sense of self.
The tone is much darker and more dramatic than Diane Morgan’s comedy, but the questions overlap. What do humans owe the machines built to care for them? Can companionship be genuine if one side was designed to provide it? And what happens when a supposedly helpful technology reveals the loneliness already present in a family?
Why Ann Droid fans will like it: It takes the eldercare-robot premise into much more serious, emotional science-fiction territory.
Best for: Viewers who want the same technology theme with higher stakes and more drama.
Where to watch: Channel 4 availability varies; check JustWatch.
4. Detectorists (2014–2022)
There is no robot, no sci-fi hook and almost no big plot in Detectorists. Instead, Mackenzie Crook’s quietly brilliant comedy follows two friends who spend their free time metal-detecting in the English countryside while dealing with jobs, relationships and the small disappointments of adult life.
That may not sound like an obvious Ann Droid match, but both shows understand the comedy and melancholy of ordinary people. Detectorists is funny because it pays close attention to tiny moments, and moving because it believes a quiet life can still be full of meaning.
Why Ann Droid fans will like it: Gentle humour, strange hobbies and an enormous amount of hidden warmth.
Best for: Anyone seeking a peaceful, deeply comforting British comedy.
Where to watch: BBC iPlayer in the UK; availability varies elsewhere.
3. Cunk on Earth (2022)
Diane Morgan’s Philomena Cunk is one of modern British comedy’s great creations: an aggressively uninformed presenter who interviews real experts with complete confidence and spectacularly wrong conclusions. Cunk on Earth takes her through the history of civilisation, from prehistoric humans to the internet, with predictably absurd results.
This recommendation is all about Morgan’s comic gift. Linda in Ann Droid is more physically stiff and socially literal, but both characters share Morgan’s perfect command of blank pauses, misplaced certainty and lines that sound ridiculous because she refuses to play them as jokes.
Why Ann Droid fans will like it: More Diane Morgan delivering deadpan nonsense with total conviction.
Best for: Fans of mockumentaries, history and surreal interview comedy.
Where to watch: BBC iPlayer in the UK; Netflix in select regions.
2. Motherland (2016–2022)
Before Ann Droid, Diane Morgan and Sarah Kendall helped make Motherland one of Britain’s most quotable comedies. The series follows a group of parents struggling with school runs, birthday parties, work, marriages and the exhausting pressure to appear organised.
Morgan’s Liz is magnificently blunt and detached, while Kendall’s Meg brings an entirely different kind of cheerful chaos. If you enjoy Ann Droid because of its specific comedic rhythm and its affection for flawed people, Motherland is essential viewing.
Why Ann Droid fans will like it: Diane Morgan and Sarah Kendall in a sharp, funny ensemble comedy about everyday British life.
Best for: Anyone who enjoys witty dialogue, family chaos and friends who are terrible at pretending.
Where to watch: BBC iPlayer in the UK; availability varies elsewhere.
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1. Mandy (2019–Present)
If Ann Droid has made you want more Diane Morgan immediately, Mandy is the answer. Morgan writes and stars as Mandy Carter, an ambitious, deeply impractical woman who moves through a series of jobs, schemes and disasters with absolute confidence and very little competence.
Mandy is broader, stranger and more openly ridiculous than Ann Droid, but it showcases exactly why Morgan is such a distinctive comic performer. She can make a single expression, an awkward pause or an overly determined walk feel funnier than a page of dialogue.
The emotional sweetness of Ann Droid is less central here, but Mandy is the purest version of Morgan’s anarchic comedic voice. It is short, surreal and perfect for anyone who wants to see what happens when the actor behind Linda gets to unleash complete chaos.
Why Ann Droid fans will like it: Diane Morgan at her funniest, strangest and most completely unpredictable.
Best for: Viewers who want maximum absurdity and minimal social grace.
Where to watch: BBC iPlayer in the UK; availability varies elsewhere.
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Final Thoughts
Ann Droid proves that a sitcom about a slightly rubbish robot can still be a story about grief, independence and the need to feel connected to someone. That blend of silliness and genuine feeling is what makes it stand out — and what makes these twelve recommendations worth trying.
For more Diane Morgan, start with Mandy, Motherland and Cunk on Earth. If the robot premise is your favourite part, go straight to Humans. And if you want the same comforting, bittersweet human warmth, Mum and Detectorists are two of the best British comedies you could choose.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ann Droid about?
Ann Droid is a BBC comedy about Sue, a widowed woman whose son gives her a second-hand humanoid eldercare robot named Linda. Their difficult relationship gradually becomes an unlikely friendship.
Who stars in Ann Droid?
Diane Morgan plays Linda the robot, while Sue Johnston plays Sue. Paul Ready also stars as Sue’s son, Michael.
Is Ann Droid a comedy or science-fiction show?
It is primarily a comedy, though it uses a near-future robot-care premise to explore loneliness, ageing, family and companionship.
What is the closest show to Ann Droid?
Mandy and Motherland are the closest choices for more Diane Morgan comedy. Humans is the best option for viewers who want another British series about androids.
Is Humans funny like Ann Droid?
Not really. Humans is a darker science-fiction drama, but it explores similar questions about artificial intelligence, companionship and what makes someone human.
What should I watch if I like Diane Morgan?
Try Mandy, Cunk on Earth, Motherland and After Life. Each showcases a different side of Morgan’s deadpan comic style.
Is Ann Droid suitable for families?
The show is a mainstream BBC sitcom, but parents should check individual episode guidance to decide whether it suits younger viewers.
How many episodes of Ann Droid are there?
The first series consists of six episodes.
Where can I watch Ann Droid?
In the UK, Ann Droid is available through BBC iPlayer. Availability elsewhere may vary.
Will there be a second series of Ann Droid?
Check BBC announcements and the official BBC iPlayer page for confirmed renewal and release information.
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