The finalists have been announced in C21’s International Drama Awards, which are voted for by the world’s leading scripted commissioners and buyers from more than 500 entries across 11 categories.
The winners will be announced at the International Drama Awards Ceremony between 6pm and 7pm on December 2 as part of Content London 2021. Visit the awards page here.
Merman’s Motherland Series 3 is a finalist in the Returning Comedy Drama Series category. The other nominees in this category are:
- Call My Agent
- Ladhood
- Never Have I Ever
- Sex Education
- Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist
Lucy Punch and Tanya Moodie in Motherland
Aisling Bea and Sharon Horgan are both finalists in the category of Individual Performance in a Comedy Drama Series for This Way Up. The other finalists in this category are:
- Asa Butterfield in Sex Education
- Ncuti Gatwa in Sex Education
- Sandra Oh in The Chair
- Anjana Vasan in We Are Lady Parts
Aisling Bea in This Way Up
This Way Up Series 2 begins in January 2020. Aine has her first date with Richard, while Shona adapts to an awkward working relationship with Charlotte. She struggles to settle into her massive new house while Vish is in New York. Aine and Richard have issues in the bedroom and Shona’s lack of support for Aine’s new business venture hits hard. Shona contemplates Vish’s suggestion that they adopt kids while mending her friendship with Charlotte. Aine overhears Richard and his friend Mark speaking negatively about her. As the first Covid lockdown approaches, Aine finds out Tom has killed himself and Shona accidentally leaves Vish a damning voicenote intended for Charlotte.
This Way Up was created by, written by and starring Aisling Bea. It is produced by Merman and distributed by NBCUniversal Global Distribution on behalf of Sky Studios. It is again directed by Alex Winckler and produced by Gavin O’Grady. Executive Producers are Clelia Mountford, Sharon Horgan and Aisling Bea. This Way Up Series 2 stars Aisling Bea, Sharon Horgan, Tobias Menzies, Aasif Mandvi, Indira Varma, Kadiff Kirwan and Ekow Quartey. The series is available to watch on All4 in the UK, Hulu in the US, Stan in Australia, Canal+ in France and DIRECTGO / OnDIRECTTV in Latin America.
Motherland is a show about navigating the trials and traumas of middle-class motherhood, looking at the competitive side and unromantic take on parenting – not the cute and acceptable public face of motherhood. In series three, Julia realises her mother Marion’s failing health means that she’ll need to live with them permanently and the en suite will have to become a geriatric-friendly bathroom. The silver lining to this horror arrives in the form of Julia’s new builder who turns out to be quite the DILF. Meanwhile, Amanda navigates the humiliation of divorce from Johnny, single mum Liz struggles to commit to Sam the shepherd and Kevin tries everything to rekindle the spark with wife Jill. High flyer Meg faces big health issues and Anne has to cope with a growing family. All this while the mums grapple with Mother’s Day, the looming choice of secondary schools, a nit pandemic, and the school trip from Hell.
Motherland Series 3 boxset is available on BBC iPlayer. Motherland was created by Sharon Horgan, Graham Linehan, Helen Serafinowicz and Holly Walsh. Series 3 was written by Holly Walsh, Helen Serafinowicz and Barunka O’Shaughnessy. It was directed by Simon Hynd, produced by Caroline Norris and story edited by Sharon Horgan. Executive producers are Clelia Mountford, Sharon Horgan, Holly Walsh and Ben Caudell (for the BBC). Helen Serafinowicz is associate producer.bMotherland stars Anna Maxwell Martin, Lucy Punch, Diane Morgan, Paul Ready, Tanya Moodie and Philippa Dunne. The series is a co-production between Merman Television and Twofour for the BBC.