Amandaland Christmas Special cast tease absolutely fabulous Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders reunion in festive episode that “begins and ends with a pavlova and has loads of laughs in between”
Published: 9 December 2025
Amanda and the family head to Aunt Joan’s country house, but the plans change when Mal and Anne tag along and she struggles to recreate the magical Christmases she spent there as a child.
Anne’s in despair at being separated from her family, and Felicity is increasingly irritated by her sister’s constant high spirits. Meanwhile Mal sees a hidden photo that seems to reveal a deep family secret…
Watch the Amandaland Christmas Special on iPlayer and BBC One on 25 December from 9.15pm
LW
Meet the cast
Lucy Punch (Amanda)
What can viewers expect from the Christmas special?
It begins and ends with a pavlova and has loads of laughs in between.
Any favourite moments from filming?
Every single scene with Jennifer Saunders was magnificent, a hilarious delight. And Jennifer with Joanna was even better.
What does a typical Christmas day look like in Amanda’s house?
Bows everywhere on everything, glass ornaments, mythical woodland mantels, decorative food towers… More style, less fun.
What would be on Amanda’s Christmas list this year?
A salmon sperm facial, some Meghan Markle marmalade and a white gold diamond cuff.
What would Amanda buy Felicity for Christmas?
Something passive aggressive, like the book, Overcoming Passive Aggression.
Joanna Lumley (Felicity)
Any favourite moments from filming?
Joan’s dog Cally stole all our hearts away. She had been thrown out of a car in a plastic bag when she was four weeks old, she has become the most enchanting and wise little creature, often leaning against our legs and staring up into our eyes. The whole crew and cast fell for her, doing the scene in the barn with Jennifer playing my estranged sister with Cally’s head on my lap was gorgeous beyond words.
What Christmas traditions would Felicity have?
I think she would arrange a cocktail hour on Christmas morning, she has trained Georgie and Manus her grandchildren to mix tequilas for her.
What would Felicity buy Amanda and the kids for Christmas?
She has forgotten to buy any presents for anyone, so they would all get hastily written-out cheques, even though the children don’t have bank accounts. She would give Amanda a lipstick she bought for herself but found it didn’t suit her.
What was it like being reunited with Jennifer on screen and playing each other’s sisters?
It was pretty special having Jennifer in the show. We were playing characters as far from Edina and Patsy as can be imagined. Everyone adored having her there, especially me, and it all felt empty when the Christmas episode was over and she had gone.
Philippa Dunne (Anne)
(Image: BBC/Merman)
Any favourite moments from filming?
The entire Christmas special episode is a favourite moment – performing a very funny script with very funny people, being in a beautifully Christmassy house in the countryside, singing carols in the rain at night and of course to top it all off working with Jennifer Saunders which has long been on my bucket list. I’ll have fond memories of it forever.
What does a typical Christmas day look like in Anne’s house?
I’d imagine it would be family, family, family, a mighty feast, lots of laughter and Anne doing her utmost to make sure everyone is having a wonderful time.
What would be on Anne’s Christmas list this year?
Health and happiness for one and all.
What would Anne buy Amanda for Christmas?
She would buy her an article that is very practical and useful, that she knows Amanda needs in her life, but that Amanda would absolutely hate, like a portable power bank that has great reviews online and comes highly recommended.
Jennifer Saunders (Aunt Joan)
Tell us about your character Aunt Joan
Joan is Amanda’s Aunt. Joanna plays my older sister, and we are entirely different characters. Joan has decided that she will be the life and soul of the party. She lives in an ever so slightly shabby country house and always hosted the family Christmases’ that Amanda remembers and wants to recreate. Joan herself is fairly shabby but terribly kind and probably farts a lot.
Do you have any similarities with your character?
I am fairly shabby and I fart a lot.
Why did you want to join the cast of Amandaland for a Christmas special?
I remember watching Amandaland when it first came on TV and absolutely loved it. I knew I would love it because even the trailer made me laugh. It’s a really funny show with jokes and falling over and great, great characters. I think Amanda and Anne are a perfect comic double act. Who wouldn’t want to be part of such a funny show?
Have you watched Motherland or Amandaland previously and what did you think?
I watched Motherland and enjoyed that enormously too. I’ve always thought Holly Walsh was a fabulous funny writer since working with her and the wonderful Sharon Horgan on Dead Boss and they have both surged ahead and I’m frankly in awe.
How did you feel when you first read the script, and what was the experience of bringing it to life like?
Well, the script was just full of great jokes and the kind of character I love playing. Also, I haven’t worked with Joanna for ages so that was a huge part of the appeal as well.
Any favourite moments from filming?
Favourite moments filming are never from doing the actual filming. I just really enjoyed sitting about and jollying and laughing with Lucy, Phillipa, Sam, and Joanna.
What was it like being reunited with Joanna on screen and playing each other’s sisters?
Like riding a bicycle!
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