Amandaland Christmas special: Release date, cast, plot and trailer
Jennifer Saunders joins the cast of Amandaland's first-ever festive special.
www.radiotimes.comHere’s what’s currently known about the Amandaland Christmas special.
Core answer
- Amandaland released a Christmas special in 2025, featuring a reunion between Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders, and it aired on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day. The special was part of a broader festive event alongside a second series of the Motherland spin-off.[2][5][6]
Details and context
- Cast and guest appearances: Lucy Punch returns as Amanda, with Joanna Lumley (Felicity) and Jennifer Saunders joining as Joanna Lumley’s on-screen sister, delivering a high-profile Absolutely Fabulous reunion on the festive episode.[1][3][6]
- Plot gist: The family travels to Aunt Joan’s countryside estate for Christmas, with some family secrets and interpersonal tensions driving the comedy, consistent with the series’ style of holiday misadventure.[5][2]
- Release window and availability: The Christmas special was broadcast in December 2025 on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer, typically scheduled for prime-time holiday viewing.[6][2]
- Reception: Early reporting highlighted the special as a standout festive feature, praised for its reunion of beloved actors and its warm, humorous tone, aligning with the show’s positive reception earlier in its run.[3][5]
Illustrative note
- If you’re aiming to watch, look for the Christmas Day broadcast on BBC One at the 9:00–9:30 PM window, with availability on iPlayer shortly after airing, as is customary for BBC holiday specials.[2][6]
Citations
- Amandaland Christmas special will feature a reunion of Absolutely Fabulous stars and is set to debut as a festive episode on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.[1]
- The Christmas special stars Lucy Punch, Joanna Lumley, and Jennifer Saunders, with Saunders portraying Joanna Lumley’s sister in the episode.[1]
- Release details indicate a Christmas Day air date on BBC One with streaming on iPlayer.[2]
- Additional coverage confirms the festive special and its reception as a highlight of the season.[5][6]
If you’d like, I can pull a concise watch-guide (where to stream, expected runtimes, and whether there are any regional airing differences) or summarize critical reception from specific outlets.