The hit comedy series Amandaland is back for a second series, bringing with it the return of Lucy Punch as the pretentious Amanda and Joanna Lumley as her mother Felicity. The spin-off from the Bafta-winning Motherland has become the most-watched comedy on British television, with its Christmas special attracting 7.4 million viewers.
Punch and Lumley, who first worked together on the 2004 film Ella Enchanted, share a strong on-screen chemistry. Lumley describes Punch as 'smart and good and committed', while Punch calls Lumley the 'special sauce' of the show. The pair's dynamic is central to the series, with Punch noting that seeing Amanda's relationship with her mother generates sympathy for an otherwise unlikable character.
The new series continues Amanda's antics, including her attempts to rebrand her new neighbourhood as 'SoHa' and her pursuit of a lifestyle influencer career. Punch admits she enjoys playing such a character, despite often being mistaken for Amanda in real life. 'I would hate for anyone to think I was like that,' she says, recalling an incident where she was called out for queue-jumping.
Filming for series two has moved from a real house to a studio set, allowing for more space and fewer disruptions. Lumley jokes that the former homeowners might be jealous of the replica. The show remains a collaborative effort from the creative team behind Motherland, including Sharon Horgan and Holly Walsh.
