Amandaland star Samuel Anderson sends fans into a frenzy as handsome 'heartthrob' on the new Motherland spin-off... and you'll never guess where you've seen him before

Motherland's hotly-anticipated spin-off show Amandaland has finally debuted on TV screens after months of waiting for eager fans. The BBC series follows the loveable yet infuriating mother Amanda, once again played by Lucy Punch, as she navigates divorce and raising her two teenagers in a much-downsized flat. While there are some very familiar faces returning for the spin-off, there are also some new characters, including Amanda's disgruntled downstairs neighbour Mal, played by Samuel Anderson.

The dishy actor, 42, has sent fans into a frenzy on the show, with many fans taking to social media to comment on his handsome looks and call for his character Mal to become a main love interest for Amanda. The comments included: 'Watching Amandaland. So funny. Also her neighbour is so yummm';. 'Need more ASAP and so here for the Amanda/Mal slow burn...'; 'Love Mal';. Amandaland has finally come to screens and while there are some familiar faces, including Lucy Punch's Amanda, there are also some newcomers including Samuel Anderson.

In the Motherland spin-off, Samuel portrays Amanda's disgruntled downstairs neighbour Mal and fans have been sent into a frenzy by his appearance on the show. 'The bickering between Amanda and Mal got me so weak lmao, between that and Amanda's mom, that was just so freaking funny.'. Other viewers were left wondering where they had seen the actor before, and he has already racked up a string of credits in some very famous British TV shows.

In fact, he recently made an appearance in the final ever episode of Gavin & Stacey as he reprised his role in the 2024 Christmas Day Special. Longtime fans of the sitcom may remember Samuel from the show's original run, when he starred as Gavin (Mathew Horne) and Smithy's (James Corden) womanising friend Fingers. Part of their close-knit Essex friendship group, he was known by his eyebrow-raising nickname and memorably chatted up one of Stacey's (Joanna Page) friends at her wedding to Gavin.

He then reprised his role for the show's final ever episode, returning as Fingers for Smithy's bachelor party ahead of his ill-fated wedding to Sonia (Laura Aikman). And it is not the first world-famous British franchise which Samuel has starred in, as he also secured a recurring role in the eighth series of Doctor Who. During Peter Capaldi's run as the titular Time Lord, Samuel starred as companion Clara Oswald's (Jenna Coleman) love interest Danny Pink.

Many fans have taken to social media to comment on his handsome looks and call for his character Mal to become a main love interest for Amanda. Other viewers were left wondering where they had seen the actor before, and he most recently reprised his role as Smithy's (James Corden) womanising friend Fingers in Gavin & Stacey. He returned for the final ever episode of the BBC sitcom for the 2024 Christmas Day special alongside Russell Tovey and Andrew Knott - who played Budgie and Dirtbox respectively.

Danny and Clara both worked as teachers in a local school and the pair then began dating, however their love story had a tragic end when Danny was hit by a car. In a sci-fi classic twist, his consciousness was uploaded to the Nethersphere and he was resurrected as a Cyberman, before he then sacrificed himself to save Clara. Samuel also famously played Crowther in 2006's comedy/romance The History Boys alongside huge names including James Corden, Dominic Cooper and Russell Tovey.

He took on the film role after originally starring in Alan Bennett's production of The History Boys on stage at the National Theatre in 2004. He has maintained a close friendship with comedian James over the years and secured his role in Gavin & Stacey just one year after The History Boys came to screen. Early on in his career, he also starred on Emmerdale, portraying Ross Kirk for a two-year stint from 2007 until 2009.

No stranger to soap operas, Samuel also secured smaller, cameo roles in both Casualty and Doctors before starring in one episode of Midsomer Murders. His face also popped up in TV show Loaded, where he played one of four friends who became multi-millionaires after selling their video game company for £246million. It is not the first British franchise which Samuel has starred in, as he also secured a recurring role as Jenna Coleman's character Clara Oswald's love interest Danny Pink in Doctor Who.

Samuel also famously played Crowther in 2006's comedy/romance The History Boys alongside James after first starring in Alan Bennett's 2004 stage production of The History Boys. Before rising to fame on screen, Samuel (pictured in January) was born in Handsworth, Birmingham, and honed his craft at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts in London. Samuel has other smaller acting credits in other TV hits including Renegade Nell, Mammals, Chemistry of Death, Landscapers and Murder, They Hope.