Roseanne Barr is returning to scripted comedy more than eight years after her hit sitcom was cancelled over a racist social media post, with a new series featuring several outspoken supporters of Donald Trump.

The comedian, 73, is set to star in Meemaw, a comedy about a patriotic grandmother who becomes embroiled in a mission to save America while organising her granddaughter's bat mitzvah.

According to Page Six Hollywood, the production will feature Randy Quaid, 76, Drea de Matteo, 54, Jon Lovitz, 69, and Tony Hinchcliffe, 42.

The announcement marks Roseanne's most significant reported return to television comedy since ABC cancelled the revival of Roseanne in 2018 following her remarks about former White House adviser Valerie Jarrett, 69.

Speaking to Page Six Hollywood about the new programme, Roseanne described it as "every bit as revolutionary as The Roseanne Show, if not more" and claimed her "work has improved with time".

She added: "I thought now would be a great time for people to actually hear from a Jew."

The series will centre on Roseanne's character, described as "a fiercely patriotic prepper grandma", who lives with a "mixed-race family" and "sets out to save America, take down a criminal empire, and throw her granddaughter the perfect Bat Mitzvah".

Randy, whose film credits include National Lampoon's Vacation, Independence Day and Kingpin, will play her husband.

Drea, best known for portraying Adriana La Cerva in HBO's The Sopranos, will play their daughter.

The cast also includes Jon, a former Saturday Night Live performer who appeared in A League of Their Own and voiced Jay Sherman in the animated sitcom The Critic.

Tony, the stand-up comedian and host of the podcast Kill Tony, is another prominent name attached to the production.

The comedian attracted widespread criticism during the 2024 US presidential election campaign after describing Puerto Rico as a "floating island of garbage" at a rally supporting US president Donald Trump, 80.

His comments prompted condemnation from politicians and public figures, including members of the Republican Party, during the closing stages of the election.

Randy has also publicly supported Donald and questioned the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, which was won by Joe Biden, 83.

Drea has spoken about her support for Donald and her opposition to Covid-19 vaccination requirements in the entertainment industry.

Roseanne's return comes after one of the most high-profile television controversies of the past decade.

In May 2018, ABC cancelled Roseanne after the comedian posted a racist message about Valerie, a former senior adviser to Barack Obama, 65, during his presidency.

The post compared Valerie, who is African-American, to the Muslim Brotherhood and the film Planet of the Apes.

Roseanne subsequently apologised, saying she was sorry "for making a bad joke", but the controversy led to the immediate cancellation of her sitcom.

Her talent agency also ended its relationship with her.

The decision came only months after the revival of Roseanne had become one of American television's biggest ratings successes.

The original programme, which ran from 1988 until 1997, followed the working-class Conner family in the fictional Illinois town of Lanford.

Roseanne played Roseanne Conner opposite John Goodman, 74, as her husband Dan, with Sara Gilbert, 51, and Laurie Metcalf, 71, among the principal cast.

The sitcom became known for its portrayal of working-class American family life, addressing subjects including financial difficulties, employment, marriage and social divisions.

Its 2018 revival brought back much of the original cast and incorporated contemporary political disagreements, including support for Donald's presidency.

Following Roseanne's dismissal, ABC commissioned the spin-off The Conners, which continued the family's story without its original star.

Roseanne's character was written out of the series, with her death attributed to an opioid overdose.

The spin-off ran for seven seasons, concluding in 2025, with John, Sara and Laurie continuing in their established roles.

Roseanne subsequently returned to stand-up comedy and developed a podcast, using both platforms to discuss politics, the entertainment industry and her departure from network television.

Her television career has also included the reality series Roseanne's Nuts, while her earlier stand-up work established her reputation for comedy centred on marriage, motherhood and working-class family life.