‘Ann Droid’ Attempts to Take On AI Horrors with Humor
'Ann Droid' is pretty sure AI is not the answer to our eldercare problems, but the idea makes a helluva buddy comedy.
Diane Morgan is best known in the U.S. for her faux-historian character Philomena Cunk, on Netflix, which was recently renewed. But her comedy skills aren’t just limited to semi-parody of presenters like Brian Cox and Lucy Worsley. Her newest project, commissioned by the BBC in the spring of 2025, Ann Droid, has finally released its first teaser trailer, and is definitely a show that will press a few buttons.
As the title suggests, the new series is about artificial intelligence, crossed with the ever-growing NHS crisis in England. As the population of the U.K. gets older while still living longer, the demand for health care workers has been outstripping the supply. The new series asks: What if AI is the answer?
The six-part series stars Morgan as the titular “AnnDroid,” a second-hand Z58/100 Basic Eldercare Robot, designed to monitor their health, imagining a future NHS where the only answer for looking after the old is to send in the robots. (Don’t worry, the answer is absolutely the most horribly ridiculous thing you’ve ever seen in your life, and the clip isn’t even a minute long.)
The series does not yet have an American streaming home; however, given Morgan’s established relationship with Netflix, I wouldn’t be surprised if it lands there. Check out the clip.
Here’s the series’ synopsis:
It’s 2029. Sue’s husband, David, passed away 18 months ago, and her only son, Michael, is moving out – again - to try and fix his marriage - again. But the good news is he’s got Sue a surprise to help her live independently, a care provider with a difference. The latest D500 social humanoid eldercare robot. Created to keep the ageing population company and monitor their health, taking the pressure off the ever-stretched NHS. It’s Sue’s worst nightmare: an overly attentive, socially inept pain in the arse. But she soon works out she can use the droid to her benefit in settling scores and doing the things her son never gets round to. What develops is a buddy comedy between an older woman and her robot, who isn’t quite as advanced socially as she is technically.
Morgan stars as the AnnDroid Z58/100 (who answers to Linda, thank you very much) alongside Sue Johnston (TrueLove) as Sue and Paul Ready (Motherland) as her son, Michael.
Morgan was very pleased to have her new show greenlit, saying in the press release: “I’m thrilled that the BBC has finally commissioned a program about AI and how it will affect your mum.”
Morgan co-wrote the series with Sarah Kendall (The Other One), with director Joe Roberts (Power of Parker) helming all three installments and Pippa Brown producing. Morgan executive produces along with Brown and Shane Allen for Boffola Pictures.
Ann Droid is expected to premiere on the BBC before the end of the summer. The series does not yet have an American distributor; we’re hoping that will be rectified before it debuts.
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