In a hilarious revelation, national treasure Joanna Lumley has confessed to issuing an extreme threat to her long-time comedy partner Jennifer Saunders. The motive? To ensure Saunders agreed to appear alongside her in the BBC's upcoming festive special of Amandaland.
A Festive Reunion Nine Years in the Making
This Christmas Day, millions of viewers will witness the beloved duo share the screen for the first time in nearly a decade. Their last major on-screen pairing was in the Absolutely Fabulous movie. In the Amandaland special, Lumley, 79, reprises her role as the perpetually grumpy grandmother Felicity, while Saunders, 67, makes a guest appearance as her cheerful sister, Aunt Joan.
Discussing how the reunion came about, Lumley laughed as she recounted her persuasive methods. "I actually emailed her and said, ‘if the script comes your way, do it - or I’ll kill you’," the actress admitted. This playful ultimatum underscores the deep bond and familiar rapport the pair have built over decades of collaboration.
From Patsy & Edina to Warring Sisters
Having played iconic best friends Patsy Stone and Edina Monsoon for years, the actors found slipping back into a shared rhythm effortless, though their characters are now radically different. "We never think of it being on screen," Lumley explained, highlighting their natural chemistry. "The difference here, of course, is that we're playing sisters."
This time, they portray siblings who are chalk and cheese. The initially bristling relationship between caustic Felicity and kindly Joan thaws as the episode progresses, a dynamic Lumley credits to the skill of writers Holly Walsh and Laurence Rickard. Saunders echoed the joy of reuniting, noting, "It's really good fun just hanging out. We did crosswords all the time." She also embraced the physical comedy, stating her default mode is, "If in doubt, fall over."
The Making of a Classic BBC Christmas Comedy
The writers aimed to craft the kind of traditional BBC Christmas special they adored in their youth. "I think everybody loves watching upper class people have a sh** time," Walsh joked. "It’s a national pastime." Inspiration was drawn from a Grayson Perry documentary on class, focusing on an aristocracy where everything is ancient and decrepit.
The special sees Amanda (Lucy Punch) dragging her mother Felicity to visit Aunt Joan in her freezing, dusty Cotswolds mansion. The plan goes awry, pulling neighbour Mal (Sam Anderson) and stranded friend Anne (Philippa Dunne) into the mix. Laurence Rickard praised Lucy Punch's ability to find humanity in the often monstrous Amanda, making her a character viewers root for.
For Lumley, Felicity's rare moments of warmth towards her daughter are her redeeming feature. "We do love each other, yes. but it’s so deeply buried... There are a little moments that are special," she revealed.
Lead actress Lucy Punch expressed her delight at working with Saunders again, nearly 30 years after being a shy newcomer on Saunders' show Let Them Eat Cake. "It was just as exciting for me as it was for everyone else," Punch declared.
The Amandaland Christmas special airs on BBC One on Christmas Day at 9.15pm.
