Stars of hit BBC sitcom Motherland to go head-to-head this Christmas as rival mums land roles in festive TV ads
THEY rarely saw eye to eye at the school gates in hit BBC sitcom Motherland.
And now its stars Anna Maxwell Martin and Lucy Punch go head-to-head in a battle of the Christmas TV ads.
Line Of Duty actress Anna is the star of this year’s Tesco Christmas advert, while Lucy is set to be the face of the coveted M&S festive campaign.
Anna, who played beleaguered Julia in Motherland, is faced with a Christmas crisis playing Lizzie in the Tesco commercial, when she accidentally orders her food to be delivered to an old address.
However Tesco delivery driver Polly, played by Roisin Conaty, offers to help her old school friend make sure that Christmas dinner makes it to the table in time for the big day.
Anna said: “We’ve all been there. In the stress to get everything perfect at Christmas, suddenly you realise you’ve somehow only ordered one singular sprout, totally forgotten wrapping paper or sent a delivery to the wrong address.
“I’m really pleased to be part of a production that acknowledges that while we can all strive for our ‘perfect’ Christmas, it is in fact human connection that truly helps to make Christmas magic.”
I previously revealed how Lucy — best known as Amanda in Motherland and its spin-off, Amandaland — is set to be the face of M&S’s first ever joint fashion and food festive promo.
She will replace comic Dawn French, who has featured in the chain’s TV food ads since 2022.
A source said: “Amandaland is one of the most popular shows on telly right now, and bosses thought it would be really fun to cast Lucy in their Christmas ad to promote both their food and fashion ranges.”
Comedian Roisin also has a link to last year’s Waitrose Christmas adverts, which starred Joe Wilkinson’s love-struck character Phil, who falls in love with Keira Knightley.
Roisin and Joe played couple Roxy and Pat in Ricky Gervais’s hit Netflix series Afterlife.
Never mind TV Christmas specials — it’s clear the ads are now the real stars of the show.
DOM’S TOUCH OF CLASS
DOMINIC COOPER has given an insight into the sizzling sex scenes on ITV series Adultery.
The Mamma Mia! actor and Romola Garai play the roles of Tom and Beth, who have an affair in the six-episode series after meeting through their teenage children.
Of the steamy scenes, Dominic praised the intimacy co-ordinators, saying: “They have helped tremendously in what are such difficult bits of the film, and they put them together beautifully.
“They really do understand it because they have studied it and a little touch can mean so much more.
“Before you used to see two actors go, ‘Well, this is what I do at home’. Then they just jump on.”
IT’S ALL FRIGHT ON THE NIGHT
BROOKLYN and Nicola Peltz Beckham gave Tarzan and Jane a run for their money as they dressed up for Halloween.
David and Victoria Beckham’s eldest son and his actress wife posed in matching leopard print.
Meanwhile, Pete Wicks and Olivia Attwood transformed into Gotham City baddies The Joker and his sidekick Harley Quinn in London’s Covent Garden this week.
Amanda Holden looked super-scary as she dressed up as Netflix axe “killer” Lizzie Borden from hit crime drama Monster.
Elsewhere Rita Ora paid homage to Dolly parton for a Halloween bash in New York and Fearne Cotton posed in a wacky brain costume.
Comic Leigh Francis did his best padded He-Man impression for a London party, while Kelly Osbourne looked unrecognisable in a catsuit as she joined pals at Annabel’s in the capital, where Sir Rod Stewart put his glad rags on to step out as a dapper Prince Charming.
X FACTOR TEEN FOR HARRYWEEN
HARRY STYLES went back to his roots on Friday as he recreated his X Factor audition for Halloween.
The As It Was singer transformed into his 16-year-old self, wearing the same grey cardigan and scarf, to go on stage during his 30-night residency at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
Harry performed Stevie Wonder’s Isn’t She Lovely – the same song he used to impress Simon Cowell and Co at his audition in 2010.
And he delighted fans at his sold-out gig by using the same introduction he gave judges 16 years ago: “I work in a bakery. I’m 16.”
Harry was eventually put together with Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson to form boyband One Direction.
Harry’s actress fiancée Zoe Kravitz was seen in a red devil outfit in a nod to spooky season, dancing in the crowd alongside the singer’s mum Anne Twist, who was dressed as Disney’s Maleficent.
The pair were joined by Elvis Presley’s granddaughter Riley Keough.
THE Gentlemen star Michelle Morrone has joined a subscription site to offer fans an exclusive glimpse into his off-screen life.
The Italian actor shared topless snaps with his 16million online followers to announce he has joined the platform subs.com, in which he is an investor alongside beauty Megan Fox.
He wrote on Instagram: “Everyone thinks they know me. Through films, photographs, brands, music, social media . . . But the truth is, you’ve only seen one part of me. And I’ve decided to open that door for you.”
He added: “I want to create something different. A private space where we can be closer.”
Michele is currently starring alongside US actress Sydney Sweeney in sequel The Housemaid’s Secret, which is set for release next year.
PHOENIX’S NEXT STEP IS SCARY
SHE may want to shake off the nepo baby tag, but Phoenix Chi Gulzar Brown is following in the footsteps of her mum Mel B.
Speaking at the VIP night of Tulleys Shocktober Fest in Crawley, she said: “I’m going to be releasing music soon, I’m not just a DJ.” And she means business.
“This summer I decided to take it seriously, and I got in the studio and spoke to a few people and I like what I’m making,” she said. “It’ll be groovy and funky stuff.
“I’ll be doing a bit of producing and singing, there’ll be a few surprises in there.”
A collaboration with her mum might seem an obvious move, but getting Scary Spice to commit is proving tricky.
Phoenix said: “I’m going to do my best to get my mum in the studio for a collaboration but she’s a woman of her own. She says no to everyone – including me.”
But one person firmly backing her musical ambitions is her events executive pal Sofie Noah. Sofie said: “It’s f***ing epic.”
She then teased: “She’s got a good voice, with a bit of Autotune.”