Television comedy is enjoying a major resurgence, with this year's festive schedules headlined by a highly-anticipated reunion of two British comedy legends. Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley will share the screen once again in a Christmas special of the hit BBC show Amandaland, marking their first sitcom collaboration since the iconic Absolutely Fabulous.
The Festive Spark for a Comedy Comeback
After years of drama and reality TV dominating ratings, scripted comedy is firmly back in the spotlight. This revival was ignited by last year's record-breaking Christmas finale of Gavin & Stacey, which attracted a colossal 19.3 million viewers including catch-up services. The BBC now hopes to capture similar festive magic with its "Cotswoldian Noel" edition of Amandaland, a spin-off from the popular series Motherland.
The show, which stars Lucy Punch as the eponymous, socially-ambitious mother and Joanna Lumley as her mother Felicity, was a breakout hit upon its debut in February, drawing over 7 million viewers. The Christmas special will see Jennifer Saunders guest star as Felicity's aristocratic sister, Joan. An advance screening of the episode took place, coincidentally, on the same day Donald Trump filed a lawsuit against the BBC.
Creating Comfort and Laughter in Challenging Times
The show's creators and stars have emphasised the vital role of comedy during difficult periods. When asked if comedy is needed more than ever, Saunders stated plainly, "We definitely need it." Co-writer Laurence Rickard, also known for Ghosts, echoed this sentiment, noting the "genuine value in making people laugh when there are some things in the world which feel particularly bleak."
Co-writer Holly Walsh explained their mission was to create a quintessentially British, warm Christmas special. "We were desperate to make a British, warm Christmas special," she said, adding they aimed to "lean into every trope and cliche going" to evoke nostalgia and make viewers feel part of a family. Walsh reminisced about the cultural importance of Christmas specials in her own upbringing, stating they were "a huge deal in my house."
A Gift of Reunion and Future Hopes
For Saunders, working with Lumley again was "an absolute gift." She revealed that Lumley had emailed her with a characteristically dramatic ultimatum when the guest role was suggested: "Do it or I'll have to kill you!" Saunders also used the opportunity to encourage a new generation of comedians, who often focus on live performance or social media, to embrace television as part of the genre's exciting comeback.
BBC Chief Content Officer Kate Phillips praised the special, claiming it has "got it all" with the perfect yuletide ingredients. "It's funny, it's slapstick, it's moving. You'll identify with so many things that happen on Christmas Day in terms of your own family," she said. Looking ahead, the comedy revival shows no signs of slowing, with second series confirmed for Amazon's Last One Laughing and Channel 4's Mitchell & Webb Are Not Helping, and Sky preparing a UK version of Saturday Night Live.
