The festive television schedule received a gloriously uproarious injection this Christmas with the one-off special Amandaland, reuniting comedy legends Dame Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders. The half-hour episode, easily a highlight of the seasonal offerings, proved the iconic duo have lost none of their impeccable comic timing.
A Country House Reunion Packed with Punchlines
The special cleverly transplanted the action from London to a dilapidated country pile in the Cotswolds near Cirencester, revealing that Lucy Punch's character Amanda comes from 'old money' rather than new riches. The setting, more akin to a Jilly Cooper novel than Downton Abbey, provided the perfect backdrop for familial tension and farce. Lumley, playing world-weary grandmother Felicity, was reluctantly attending a family gathering, her face a picture of disdain, notably dismissing the estate as "only 11 acres and a ha-ha."
Dame Joanna revealed at an event on London's South Bank last week that she strong-armed Saunders into the guest role, quipping to her co-star: 'Do it or I'll have to kill you.' Her determination paid off, with Saunders making a spectacular entrance as Felicity's sister Joan, flinging open the door wearing a pearl necklace and a blood-drenched apron, exclaiming: "Oh dear, you caught me mid-giblets!"
The Dynamic Duo Steals the Show
From that moment, the episode transformed into a masterclass from the two grandes dames. While Lucy Punch's Amanda had strong moments, including a brilliant physical joke where she resembled Mick Jagger, the core dynamic became the Jen and Jo show. Their portrayal of sisters with a complicated, fond-but-distant history felt authentic and was hilariously explored. The climax saw them on hay bales in a stable, reminiscing about their debutante days when they were cruelly nicknamed 'Great Hair... and The Spare.'
The writing was packed with sharp gags, from a Shakespearean joke about being "hoist with your own petard" during a game of hide-and-seek, to Felicity's withering assessment of the lawn decorations: "This is why I don't go to therapy. Some memories are best repressed." The central mystery—hinting that Sir Mick Jagger might be the father of Amanda—culminated in Felicity's perfectly wicked denial: "I did sleep with Mick once or twice, but not in the way you'd get pregnant."
A Showcase of Lumley's Undervalued Range
While celebrated for her iconic role as Patsy in Absolutely Fabulous, Amandaland highlighted the darker, nuanced edges Lumley can bring to comedy. The performance suggests she could excel in stark dramatic roles, such as a dementia-themed piece, showcasing a depth beyond her action-dolly roots in The New Avengers. The special proved that the chemistry between Saunders and Lumley remains a national treasure, delivering a Christmas comedy packed with wit, warmth, and truly outrageous moments.
