With Breeders star Daisy Haggard joining the cast

Amandaland is to return with an hour-long Christmas special this year, with Breeders star Daisy Haggard joining the cast, the BBC has announced.

It follows the success of the 2025 Christmas special, which was the most-watched comedy programme of the year, with an audience of 7.4 million across 28 days.

Haggard will play Millie, an old friend who Lucy Punch’s Amanda bumps into – prompting her to drop her quiet family Christmas Eve plans to instead throw a huge last-minute party to try to impress her and wheedle her way back into the glamorous circle of her former classmates.

Punch said: ‘There’s mistletoe, cheese straws and a middle-aged wannabe sexy Santa. We are all delighted to be back again for an Amandaland Xmas Spesh!’

Joanna Lumley and Philippa Dunne are also returning alongside Samuel Anderson, Harriet Webb, Rosie Cavaliero and more.

The show is written by Holly Walsh, who also directs, and  Laurence Rickard. In a statement, the pair said: ‘We are utterly thrilled that the BBC have given us the ultimate Christmas present of another special – and an hour long one at that.  Cameras are now rolling and we are so sure that you’ll love this gift we’ve got for you, we’re not even enclosing the receipt.’

Seb Barwell, the BBC’s commissioning editor, said: ‘Last year’s special proved to be the Christmas tradition we didn’t know we needed, so we’re delighted to have Amanda and friends back for another one. 

The Christmas special has been announced ahead of the third series

Created by: Sharon Horgan, Holly Walsh, Helen Serafinowicz and Barunka O’Shaughnessy
Written by: Holly Walsh and Laurence Rickard
Series producer: Arnold Widdowson
Director: Holly Walsh
Executive producers: Sharon Horgan, Holly Walsh, Helen Serafinowicz, Laurence Rickard and Faye Dorn
BBC commissioning editors: Seb Barwell and Roya Eslami

Published: 30 Sep 2026