Television comedy is staging a major comeback, with a festive reunion of two of its biggest stars leading the charge. This year's BBC Christmas Day schedule will be headlined by a special episode of Amandaland, featuring the first sitcom collaboration between Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley since the iconic Absolutely Fabulous.
The Festive Spark for a Comedy Resurgence
After years dominated by drama and reality television, scripted comedy is reclaiming its place in the nation's hearts and living rooms. This resurgence was ignited by last year's record-breaking festive finale of Gavin & Stacey, which attracted 12.3 million viewers on the day and a colossal 19.3 million including catch-up services.
Buoyed by this success, broadcasters are doubling down on laughter. The BBC's flagship offering is the Amandaland Christmas special, a spin-off from the hit show Motherland. Looking ahead, Amazon will air a second series of Last One Laughing, while Channel 4 brings back Mitchell & Webb Are Not Helping. Sky is also joining the fray, launching a UK version of the legendary US sketch show Saturday Night Live.
A Cotswold Christmas with an All-Star Cast
The Amandaland special, described by the BBC as a "Cotswoldian Noel," centres on the eponymous smug mum played by Lucy Punch, with Joanna Lumley as her mother, Felicity. The show proved a hit upon its February debut, drawing over 7 million viewers—a significant achievement for a new comedy.
The festive episode guest stars Jennifer Saunders as Felicity's aristocratic sister, Joan. Saunders revealed that Lumley sent her a characteristically dramatic email when the role was suggested, stating: "Do it or I’ll have to kill you!" Saunders called working with her old friend again "an absolute gift."
Comedy as a Beacon in Bleak Times
The special's advance screening coincided with a lawsuit filed against the BBC by Donald Trump, prompting reflections on comedy's vital role. Asked if laughter was needed more than ever, Saunders was unequivocal: "We definitely need it."
Amandaland co-writer Laurence Rickard echoed this sentiment, stating: "There’s a genuine value in making people laugh when there are some things in the world which feel particularly bleak… We’re very proud to be doing something for the BBC at a time like this when it’s being attacked."
Co-writer Holly Walsh explained their mission was to create a warm, traditional British 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 a sense of family.
Fulfilling the Christmas Special Legacy
Both writers, who grew up watching classic Christmas specials, wanted to create inclusive family entertainment. Walsh described their goal as something "not too shocking, but that most people would have a really good laugh to." She emphasised the special's role in making viewers feel part of the national Christmas Day experience.
Kate Phillips, the BBC’s chief content officer, believes the special has "got it all," blending humour, slapstick, and emotion. "You’ll identify with so many things that happen on Christmas Day in terms of your own family," she said.
Saunders, acknowledging the high bar for festive TV, noted: "Christmas specials are the hardest thing to write, because you’ve got to fulfil that expectation." She also expressed hope that the comedy revival would encourage a new generation of comedians, who often focus on live gigs or social media, to try their hand at television.
With a beloved star reunion at its heart and a wave of new comedy on the horizon, the nation's television screens are set for a much-needed dose of festive cheer and laughter.
