AMANDALAND IS RETURNING FOR A CHRISTMAS SPECIAL WITH AN ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS GUEST STAR
Sweetie darlings, sparkles and nibbles at the ready – the Amandaland Christmas special is on its way! The BBC has confirmed that the hit comedy will return for a festive special ahead of its second series in 2026, after Joanna Lumley let the news slip on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show earlier this month.
After the first series of the Motherland spin-off proved a huge success, averaging 5.7 million viewers, anticipation for the special is already sky-high.
The episode will reunite the beloved cast – Lucy Punch, Joanna Lumley and Philippa Dunne – and welcomes the absolutely fabulous Jennifer Saunders, marking her first scripted on-screen reunion with Joanna Lumley since Absolutely Fabulous.
Jennifer will play Aunt Joan, Felicity’s (Lumley) sister, a whirlwind of country-living, upper-class bluster who is very, very different from her sibling.
Who's in the cast of the Amandaland Christmas special?
The confirmed returning cast includes:
The confirmed returning cast includes:
Lucy Punch as Amanda Hughes
Joanna Lumley as Felicity Sanderson
Philippa Dunne as Anne Flynn
Jennifer Saunders as Aunt Joan
While the rest of the casting is yet to be announced, we’re expecting to see some of our favourite characters return including:
Samuel Anderson as Mal
Siobhán McSweeney as Della Fry
Rochenda Sandall as Fi
Ekow Quartey as JJ
Peter Serafinowicz as Johannes Van der Velde
Miley Locke as Georgie
Anya McKenna-Bruce as Morten
Alexander Shaw as Manus
Jack Veal as Darius
Archie Smith as Ned
Lucy Punch, who plays Amanda said: “I’m beyond excited to get started on Amandaland series two with our brilliantly talented lovely cast. The Christmas special is going to be an absolute cracker – it’s like totes fire, with all the festive feels, for reals. Slay bells!”
Jennifer Saunders added: "I am delighted to be joining the fabulous Amandaland gang for a Christmas special. Playing Joanna’s on-screen sister is guaranteed to be a laugh – who doesn’t love a family reunion SoHa style!"
Co-writers and creators Holly Walsh and Laurence Rickard said: "It’s an absolute joy to be back in SoHa (South Harlesden) again. After six months of researching Brent Council’s fly tipping rules, attempting Anne’s Irish accent, and writing the odd bit of script, we’re thrilled to have Jennifer Saunders join our gang for this very special episode."
When is the Amandland Christmas special on?
The Amandaland Christmas Special will air on Christmas Day at 9:15pm on BBC One and iPlayer. In the meantime, you can catch up on Amandaland series one on BBC iPlayer, as well as all three series of Motherland.
Amandaland Christmas special trailer
The Amandaland Christmas trailer is here! Amanda and the gang are heading to Aunt Joan's for the festivities. From regifting to vegan teenagers, there are plenty of laughs and relatable moments that every family will enjoy.
Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Yours at Bauer Media. A devoted bookworm and TV fan, she’s always immersed in the latest shows or catching the newest films and theatre productions. When she’s not writing, Arabella enjoys cooking and exploring the outdoors with her three dogs.