Sue Johnston set to star in BBC sitcom Ann Droid
Sue Johnston will star alongside Paul Ready in Ann Droid.
Sue Johnston has joined the cast of Ann Droid.
The 81-year-old actress will star alongside Paul Ready in the new Diane Morgan-written sitcom, which will air on BBC One.
Sue - who previously played Barbara Royle in the BBC comedy The Royle Family - said: "I’m thrilled to be back in the heart of BBC comedy, Diane and Sarah [Kendall, the show's co-writer] have created a comedy that will resonate with lots of different audiences, for different reasons and I cannot wait to get started."
Paul has been cast as Sue's on-screen son and he's also looking forward to working with Diane, who has enjoyed huge success with her Philomena Cunk comedy character.
He said: "I don’t know much, but I do know that if you get a chance to work with Diane Morgan, you take it. Immediately! Can’t wait to be reunited and bring Michael to life in her brilliant comic series."
Ann Droid was commissioned by the BBC earlier this year. And Diane - who stars as a social humanoid robot, created to keep elderly people company and monitor their health - previously revealed that she couldn't wait to shoot the six-part series.
The 50-year-old actress - who previously starred on Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe - said in a statement in May: "I’m thrilled that the BBC has finally commissioned a programme about AI and how it will affect your mum."
Shane Allen, an executive producer for Boffola Pictures, said at the time: "In a world where AI is creeping in to the creative industry, we’re fighting back in the best way we can: taking the p*** out of it. The ball’s in your court Chat GPT."
Meanwhile, Jon Petrie, the BBC's Director of Comedy, noted that Ann Droid "marries heart and high-jinks in equal measure".
He explained: "Diane Morgan’s sharp comedic genius shines in Ann Droid, co-written with Sarah Kendall, as she brings to life an unlikely friendship between a feisty pensioner and her over-attentive robot. Equal parts clever and chaotic, this six-part sitcom marries heart and high-jinks in equal measure."
