The BBC has confirmed that comedy series Ann Droid will return for a second season. The show, starring Sue Johnston and Diane Morgan, became an unexpected hit when it launched earlier this year.
Diane, best known for Mandy, plays Linda, a social humanoid robot who forms an unlikely friendship with Sue's character, also named Sue. The series questioned the rise of AI across society, asking: “What is replaceable and what is not?”
The synopsis teased how Linda was brought into Sue's life after the death of her husband David, when her son Michael (played by Motherland's Paul Ready) moved out to try to fix his marriage. While Sue initially wanted to live independently and saw Linda as her worst nightmare, the pair became friends and had an emotional reunion at the end of the series.
Second season confirmed at Edinburgh TV Festival
Viewers were gripped by the series and had been begging for more, with the BBC now confirming a second season. The news was shared at the Edinburgh TV Festival's Spotlight on the BBC on Thursday, August 27.
After the reaction to Ann Droid – which became the BBC's second biggest new scripted launch of the year to date after Small Prophets and attracted 7.6m viewers – Diane admitted the cast were “blown away”.
She said: “The response to Ann Droid has been so incredible. We're all totally blown away. I'm really looking forward to not blinking, needing physio and hearing Cotton Eyed Joe on repeat.”
Cast react to the news
Sue added: “I am so unbelievably happy that we are to do another series! Great script, great cast, great crew. The reaction from the public has been wonderful. Even my doctor called me Sue, Sue, Sue this morning! Everyone has been asking if there will be more and now we can tell them! Yippee.”
Sue's comments come after she called for Ann Droid to air a Christmas special, replacing Mrs Brown's Boys. It was revealed earlier this month that Mrs Brown's Boys would not be returning due to Brendan O'Carroll's health issues, as he required “immediate surgery” on a broken jaw.
The 70-year-old writer and actor said the planned Christmas and New Year specials had to be cancelled, sharing on social media: "It is with sincere regret I must announce that due to an unexpected medical issue I will have to cancel the recordings of the 2026 Mrs Brown's Boys Christmas and New Year's Specials. Following a CT Scan, it was found that I had two fractures in my mandible (jaw) which requires immediate surgery and a few months recovery." He added that he has been in conversations with the BBC about “getting Mrs Brown's Boys back on the screen in 2027”.
Fans call for Christmas special
After Brendan's update, actress Sue posted on social media: “Surely the BBC should be calling Diane Morgan for an #AnnDroid Christmas special?!” One fan replied: “Absolutely! A one hour special!!”
“ABSOLUTELY!!!!!! We need more Ann Droid!!!!” one person replied. Another said: “omg, yes!!! I'm still living in Ann Droid world. I laughed and delighted SO MUCH at it. God, imagine the fun you could create doing a Christmas & its human traditions with Linda & the others. NO SAD ending though - the last one pained my [heart] a bit too much.”
“I'd take that… #AnnDroid has been the best BBC sitcom for years,” another said. Someone else wrote: “Yes, absolutely agree. To be honest, I'm surprised they haven't already commissioned a Christmas special.” Ann Droid is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
