Amandaland Christmas special 2025 on BBC One: Jennifer Saunders reunites with Joanna Lumley
First Look of Ab Fab star as Aunt Joan
Amandaland is being given a festive makeover this Christmas, and now the BBC has released the first look at comedy legend Jennifer Saunders in her guest role as Aunt Joan.
In October, producers confirmed that Jennifer would join the Amandaland cast for the Christmas special 2025. Now we can see her reunited with her Absolutely Fabulous co-star, Joanna Lumley, in the picture below.
Fans of the Motherland spin-off will know that Joanna plays Felicity, the overbearing mother of Amanda, played by Lucy Punch. Now we have a new member of the family as Felicity’s sister, Aunt Joan, arrives for the festive season.
The official BBC announcement for Jennifer’s casting said: “It’s an absolute joy to be back in SoHa (South Harlesden) again. We’re thrilled to have a Christmas special and Jennifer Saunders is the perfect addition to the gang.”
Who does Jennifer Saunders play in the Amandaland Christmas special 2025?
The BBC described Aunt Joan as a ‘ball of country-living, enthusiastic upper-class bluster’. So it sounds like she couldn’t be more different to her stuck-up sister, Felicity.
When she talked about joining the hit comedy show, Jennifer said: “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!”
This Christmas special marks the first scripted reunion for Jennifer and Joanna since the Absolutely Fabulous movie in 2016. The comedy stars played Edina and Patsy in the long-running series between 1992 and 2012.
As well as Lucy Punch as Amanda and Joanna Lumley as Felicity, Jennifer will be joining the rest of the cast from series 1, including the brilliant Philippa Dune, who plays Amanda’s long-suffering friend, Anne, to perfection.
Amandaland Christmas special plot
The 30-minute festive episode will see Amanda and her family head to Aunt Joan’s house in the country. But the plans change when Mal and Anne tag along and Amanda struggles to recreate the magical Christmases she spent at the house as a child.
Anne also despairs over being separated from her family, while Felicity grows increasingly irritated by her sister’s constant high spirits.
Meanwhile, Mal sees a hidden photo that seems to reveal a deep family secret…
When can I watch Amandaland this Christmas?
The BBC hasn’t announced a release date for the festive episode yet. However, it will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer over the Christmas period.
Speaking of the Christmas special, Lucy Punch said: “The Christmas special is going to be an absolute cracker. It’s like totes fire, with all the festive feels, for reals. Slay Bells!”
Meanwhile, the announcement for Amandaland series 2 came out in October. The series is returning to BBC One and BBC iPlayer in 2026.
Because of the huge success of series 1, producers quickly decided to recommission Amandaland for a second series. Episode 1 drew in a staggering 7.4 million viewers, making it one of the biggest new comedies on the BBC in recent years.
Read more: The best Christmas TV shows for 2025 across all platforms
