Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders on the Amandaland Christmas special

Joanna Lumley joked that she would ‘murder’ her Absolutely Fabulous co-star Jennifer Saunders if she didn’t sign up for the Christmas edition of Amandaland.

Lumley plays the title character’s cold, judgmental mother Felicity and was very keen on her former colleague playing her sister Joan, a posh, gregarious countrywoman.

On creating the character, writer Holly Walsh explained:  ‘We were just like, "who would be the worst person for Felicity to have to spend a weekend with?" And that's really where Jennifer stepped in. We loved the idea of meeting the exact opposite of Felicity, someone who was really warm and full of love.'

At a preview screening of the episode, Lumley, 79, said: ‘When I heard the notion that they were hoping for Jennifer, I actually emailed her and said, "if the script comes your way, do it - or I’ll kill you"’.

And she added that their long working relationship made filming easy, saying: ‘Honestly, because we know each other anyway, we never think of it being on screen.’

Saunders, 67, added: 'It’s really good fun just hanging out. We did crosswords all the time.’

Walsh said of the script: ‘I think everybody loves watching upper class people have a shit time. It’s a national pastime.’

She and and co-wrtiter Laurence Rickard said they   took inspiration from a Grayson Perry documentary which revealed that the aristocracy are surrounded by absolutely belongings. 

‘They're all too posh to have money,’ Rickard explained. 'They will have their father's Barbour jacket. They'll drive a Volvo, that’s been in the family for like 30 years. Everything's decrepit.’

The Amandaland special is on BBC One at 9.15pm on Christmas Day.

Published: 23 Dec 2025