For Lucy Punch, Christmas this year promises a delightful reunion – not just with family, but with a comedy icon. She’s starring alongside Jennifer Saunders in the highly anticipatedAmandalandfestive special on BBC One, a moment decades in the making.
The special finds Amanda, Lucy’s hilariously ambitious character, relocating from West London to a newly rebranded “So-Ha” – South Harlesden – in a bid to maintain her social standing. This Christmas, Amanda’s journey takes her to the countryside to visit her Aunt Joan, played by Jennifer Saunders, alongside her mother, portrayed by Dame Joanna Lumley.
This isn’t just another on-screen pairing; it marks the first scripted collaboration between Saunders and Lumley since the iconicAbsolutely Fabulous, sparking excitement among fans of British comedy. For Lucy, the opportunity is particularly special, recalling her first encounter with Saunders over 25 years ago.
Back in 1999, a young Lucy, then 22, shared the screen with Jennifer in the sitcomLet Them Eat Cake. She remembers being utterly “starstruck” by Saunders and Dawn French, who were at the height of their fame withFrench and Saunders. The experience left her almost speechless.
But working with Jennifer again, over two decades later, proved even more rewarding. “Even better,” Lucy confessed, “Because when I worked with her the first time, I couldn’t speak because I was so excited and so impressed.” This time, she felt more confident, able to truly collaborate.
During rehearsals, Lucy discovered a unique gauge for success. “You’re gauging stuff as you’re rehearsing with her, going: ‘Oh, this is making Jennifer laugh. I’ll be sure to do more of that,’” she revealed, understanding that Saunders’ laughter was a sign she was hitting the right notes.
Amandalandbegan as a spin-off from the popular seriesMotherland, where Lucy first brought Amanda to life. The character, a master of social climbing and delightfully blunt assessments, quickly captured audiences’ attention. Lucy particularly enjoyed portraying Amanda’s playfully antagonistic relationship with Anne.
“I always liked the scenes where I’m bullying Anne, because I feel like that’s where she started,” Lucy explained. “She was the high school bully. So that dynamic with Anne was the springboard as she’s developed over the years.” It’s a dynamic she finds consistently entertaining to explore.
Despite Amanda’s less-than-perfect qualities, Lucy identifies with her unwavering determination. “She’s quite determined, and will reframe stuff when things are going badly, maybe even to the point of being delusional and thinking: ‘This is going to be great. Everything’s going to work out,’” Lucy observed.
Lucy’s own path to acting was similarly determined. She left university after landing a role inLet Them Eat Cake, embracing the unpredictable nature of a career in performance. “I kept thinking, ‘I’ll go back,’ and then I got another job, and then another,” she recalled, realizing she’d found her calling.
Her career blossomed, taking her to the US where she appeared in films likeSt. Trinian’s,Bad Teacher, andInto the Woods. She noted a distinct difference between the entertainment industries in the UK and the US, describing the UK scene as “cosier and warmer.”
While acknowledging the competitive nature of the industry, Lucy ultimately embraces the joy of her profession. “It’s entertainment, and it’s fun when you get to do it,” she said. “There are lots of great, wonderful things about getting to be an actor, but it is also a business.”
Fans can look forward to not only this Christmas special, but also a new series ofAmandalandin 2026. Lucy promises that the show will be even more captivating, with the characters further developed and their storylines enriched. “People will enjoy it as much, if not more,” she assured.
