We already knew that a second season of Amandaland was on the way, but Joanna Lumley has given fans even more exciting news - a festive special is also coming to the small screen!
The BBC series, a spin-off to popular British sitcom Motherland, follows the recently divorced Amanda Hughes (Lucy Punch) as she navigates single life while parenting her children following a move to South Harlesden.
Following a popular run earlier this year, the BBC officially greenlit a follow-up in March, with rumours of a Christmas special also swirling around. The speculation was in fact warranted, with Lumley confirming that there will be some festive cheer.
The actor, who portrays Amanda's mother Felicity, was asked about her upcoming schedule during an appearance on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show earlier this week, with the icon replying that she was "busy".
"I'm just about to start another series of Amandaland," she added. "[It] was a gorgeous, wild success. Clever clever Lucy Punch. We're just about to start seven more episodes and one is a Christmas special for this year."
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The confirmation of a festive special will no doubt delight fans and critics alike, with the popular sitcom currently having an impressive approval rating of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes from 12 reviews.
"Every now and again, an iconoclastic gem spawns an entirely worthy spin-off. It’s too early to say if Amandaland is in that league. Let’s just say this clever and jolly series is hard to resist," wrote The Independent.
"Uproarious, but also unexpectedly moving. This is largely due to Punch’s comic timing and earnest delivery of killer lines," wrote The Guardian, while The New Statesman described the series as "genius".
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The London Evening Standard also praised Punch's performance, writing: "All this action and wit is upheld perfectly by Lucy Punch, who makes the turn from enjoyable side character to magnetic main character with unexpected, brilliant ease."
In addition to Punch and Lumley, the cast for Amandaland includes Philippa Dunne, Samuel Anderson and Siobhán McSweeney. Sharon Horgan, who created Motherland, serves as a producer for the spin-off.
Amandaland airs on BBC One and streams on BBC iPlayer.
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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
