Amandaland fans baffled by absence of Siobhán McSweeney in S2: 'Della was THE character of the first series!'
Will you miss her?
Amandaland fans were left puzzled this week when one of the main characters was missing from the brand new series 2 – so where IS Siobhán McSweeney?
Although her character Della did appear very briefly via video on Fi’s phone, it was made clear that the chef will not be present in the new six-parter.
And some fans are not amused. So why isn’t actress Siobhán McSweeney in Amandaland series 2, and will she be back in the BBC One comedy? Here’s everything we know about her absence and possible return.
***Warning: very mild spoilers from Amandaland series 2 ahead***
Is Siobhán McSweeney’s character Della in Amandaland S2?
Della Fry, played by Derry Girls actress Siobhán McSweeney, is missing from Amandaland series 2. The famous chef was running her own restaurant Double Shin in SoHa – South Harlesden – in series 1. However, the character is now working away on a cruise ship. In fact, she is specifically “working a corporate gig cruising around Hawaii for three months”.
Of course, this means that the rather needy (but ridiculously likeable) Fi has been left alone without her adored wife. Who seems to do all the household maintenance! In episode 1, Siobhán McSweeney’s Della appeared ever so briefly via video chat on a call to Fi.
And that is the last we’ll see of her for most of the series. Della Fry was a main character in the 2025 BBC comedy series Amandaland, a spin-off of Motherland. Brash, and sharp-tongued, she was one of the very few people who spoke up against Amanda’s self-delusions.
We do have some good news though. Della WILL return in the series finale. And she has some very big news for Fi.
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Who is Harriet Webb’s Abs?
In Della Fry’s absence, the BBC One comedy has introduced Abs. She runs a food bank, and isn’t afraid to contradict Amanda’s self-serving comments. We loved her on first sight, when she took Amanda down a peg or two – not that Lucy Punch’s character even noticed!
The character, played by Big Boys star Harriet Webb, is introduced as the no-nonsense, straight-talking ex-partner of Mal (Samuel Anderson) and the current wife of JJ (Ekow Quartey).
Harriet Webb joins Pam Ferris who is also on board for Amandaland series 2. Pam plays a frail neighbour with a very desirable house, who Amanda is quick to befriend.
Why isn’t Siobhán McSweeney in Amandaland series 2?
Well, anyone who is a fan of Siobhán McSweeney will have been following her career closely since the end of Derry Girls. And she’s just too damn popular at the moment!
Having recently appeared in the BBC thriller Nine Bodies in a Morgue, she is also in demand as a presenter. Siobhán is currently occupied hosting The Great Pottery Throw Down and the Irish edition of The Traitors. The latter has been commissioned for a series 2, and will return later this year.
So she’s been rather busy, and schedule clashes meant she was unable to film more than a few minutes of screen time for Amandaland.
‘Della was THE character of the first series’
It’s fair to say that some fans were divided about the absence of Siobhán McSweeney’s Della Fry. One disgruntled viewer said: “Anyone know if Siobhán McSweeney is in the new #Amandaland? Della was THE character of the first series.”
Another said: “Absolutely *loved* episode one of #Amandaland – skin crawling, class-conscious British comedy at its finest. Lucy Punch is hilarious, captivating, and stunningly beautiful – what a star, also Siobhán McSweeney is a total badass.”
A third said: “You know what, adding Siobhán McSweeney to any show just makes it better #Amandaland.”
However, one viewer was glad to see less of the character, writing: “Glad to see Siobhán McSweeney was only seen from a phone call. I don’t think she’s very good in it – whether it’s her inability to portray her character that well, or she’s just not very good, I don’t know.”
Read more: Amandaland: Who plays who in cast of Motherland spin-off as Lucy Punch reprises her role as Amanda
