The new BBC comedy Ann Droid, created by Sarah Kendall and Diane Morgan, offers a fresh and funny take on robotics and elder care. The series follows Sue (Sue Johnston), a widow who, after a fainting spell lands her in hospital with a sprained wrist, is reluctantly paired with a preloved robot carer named Linda (Diane Morgan). The show premiered on BBC One and is now available on iPlayer.
Plot and Characters
Sue's son Michael (Paul Ready), moving back in with his cheating ex, purchases the robot on a 24-month contract as a solution to his mother's care. The robot, delivered by overburdened driver Cass (Sarah Kendall), is useless without internet and initially appalls Sue. However, Linda proves to be incompetent yet compassionate, reminding Sue to take medication and organizing social activities to combat isolation.
The series balances tech themes reminiscent of Channel 4's Humans with emotional depth akin to Stefan Golaszewski's Mum, all while delivering Morgan's signature deadpan humor. Supporting characters include smug acquaintance Phyllis (Margot Leicester), salt-of-the-earth bestie Eileen (Kathryn Hunter), and fellow bots Roxy (Nicole Sadie Sawyerr) and Keith (Ed Jones).
Humor and Heart
The comedy is silly and singular, with Linda hooked on The Apprentice and the song Cotton Eye Joe. In one scene, she uses her laser eyes to taser a Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor who slept with Michael's wife, quipping, 'I used a low amperage.' Yet the show also delivers poignant moments, such as when Sue's friend Tom (David Hargreaves) scatters his cousin's ashes and Linda, the robot, offers appropriate words, parsing human emotion for the first time.
Johnston is heartbreaking as Sue, struggling with grief over her husband David's death. The bond between Sue and Linda develops touchingly, with Linda performing an act so kind in the first episode that Sue warms to her. The show never stays sad for long, however, as scenes shift to a seaside funfair where Eileen warns against rollercoasters due to a Swedish woman 'skewered like a shish kebab' in an accident.
Context and Themes
Jamaican nurse Brianna (Michelle Greenidge) warns that the home can be 'lethal' for the elderly, noting the risk of falls. The series arrives amid debates about AI and robotics, offering a nuanced perspective: robot carers may be incompetent but also considerate. With elder-care robots already in use in Asia, Ann Droid treads carefully, addressing the reality of isolation and need with warmth. As the show suggests, it's not dystopian but pragmatic in countries lacking caregivers for aging populations.
According to the review, 'it’s a show about a robot, but it’s shot through with a love and care that are entirely human.' The series is a wonderful addition to BBC comedy, blending silliness with tearjerking moments.
