Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley Reunite On-Screen for Festive ‘Amandaland’ Christmas Special – A Joyful Nod to Their Absolutely Fabulous Legacy

Comedy legends Jennifer Saunders and Dame Joanna Lumley have delighted fans with their first scripted on-screen reunion in nine years, guest-starring together in the BBC’s Amandaland Christmas Special, which aired on Christmas Day 2025. While not a brand-new Absolutely Fabulous episode as some hoped, the festive special sees the iconic duo playing sisters – a far cry from their legendary roles as Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone – delivering sharp wit, bold humour, and that unmistakable chemistry that made Ab Fab a British comedy treasure.

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Jennifer saunders & Joanna Lumley – Interview Magazine

Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley as Edina and Patsy in classic Absolutely Fabulous style.

In Amandaland, a spin-off from the acclaimed Motherland, Lumley reprises her role as the icy, wicked Felicity Sanderson, mother to Lucy Punch’s chaotic Amanda. Saunders joins as Felicity’s enthusiastic, country-living sister Joan – described as a “ball of upper-class bluster” – in a family Christmas gathering packed with misunderstandings, laughs, and heartfelt moments. The episode, set at Joan’s countryside mansion, begins and ends with a pavlova, weaving slapstick chaos with bittersweet family dynamics.

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Bonhams : Absolutely Fabulous (The Movie): A signed poster, BBC …

Promotional poster featuring the Absolutely Fabulous duo.

From the opening scenes, the reunion recaptures the duo’s fearless energy. Saunders and Lumley, whose timing remains electric, balance outrageous comedy with quieter emotional depth, celebrating enduring bonds and the passage of time. Critics and viewers hailed it as one of the year’s best festive TV moments, with The Guardian calling Saunders “sublime” and the special a “beautifully bittersweet” treat. Fans praised the “joyful blend of nostalgia and modern relevance,” proving their partnership is truly timeless.

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Amazon.com: Absolutely Fabulous Promo shot with graffiti Joanna …

Another iconic shot of Edina and Patsy.

Lumley, 79, revealed she persuaded Saunders to join, emailing: “Do it or I’ll have to kill you!” Saunders, 67, called it “an absolute gift,” thrilled to play Lumley’s on-screen sister in a “SoHa-style” family reunion. “It was really good fun just hanging out,” she said. Lumley added it felt “pretty special,” though their characters are “as far from Edina and Patsy as can be imagined.”

The special bridges generations, appealing to longtime Ab Fab devotees and new audiences discovering the duo’s magic. Punch enthused: “Every single scene with Jennifer Saunders was magnificent… The Christmas special is going to be an absolute cracker!”

This marks their first scripted collaboration since the 2016 Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie. While Saunders has confirmed no further Ab Fab revivals – focusing on new projects – this reunion reminds us why Edina and Patsy’s champagne-soaked antics hold a cherished place in comedy history.

The Amandaland Christmas Special offers laughter, warmth, and a perfect holiday escape, now available on BBC iPlayer. A second series follows in 2026.

Sweetie darlings, it was fabulous!