Amandaland is back for a Christmas special that "begins and ends with a pavlova and has loads of laughs in between."
Amanda (Lucy Punch) 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…
The show is notable for the appearance of Jennifer Saunders alongside her old Abfab chum Joanna Lumley...
Read an interview with Jennifer Saunders below.
Watch the Amandaland Christmas Special on iPlayer and BBC One on 25 December from 9.15pm
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!
Interview/picture supplied by BBC
