Amandaland is returning to BBC One and BBC iPlayer for a brand-new Christmas special in 2026.
The award-winning BBC comedy has been commissioned for another festive episode following two successful series and a record-breaking Christmas special last year.
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Lucy Punch will return as Amanda, the self-appointed queen of So-Ha, alongside Joanna Lumley and Philippa Dunne.
Daisy Haggard will also join the Christmas special as Amanda's old friend Millie.
When is the Amandaland Christmas special 2026?
The Amandaland Christmas special will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in 2026.
The BBC has confirmed the festive episode will run for one hour, with filming already underway.
An exact release date for the Christmas special has not yet been announced.
The special comes ahead of the eagerly anticipated third series of Amandaland.
What is the Amandaland Christmas special about?
Amanda's plans for a quiet family Christmas Eve are thrown out of the window after she has a chance encounter with an old school friend.
She decides to host a huge last-minute party in an attempt to impress her former classmates.
Amanda sees the party as a potential route back into the high-flying social circle of her ex-classmates, meaning everything has to be perfect.
There is just one problem.
Amanda quickly discovers that organising a high-end party with only 24 hours to spare is far from easy.
With nobody impressive available at such short notice, she is forced to cast her invitation net wider and wider as the hours tick down.
Who is in the Amandaland Christmas special cast?
Lucy Punch returns as Amanda, with Joanna Lumley and Philippa Dunne also back for the festive episode.
Daisy Haggard joins the cast as Amanda's old friend Millie.
Samuel Anderson returns as Mal, while Rochenda Samuel plays Fi and Ekow Quartey returns as JJ.
Harriet Webb is back as Abs, Cavan Clerkin plays Daniel and Rosie Cavaliero returns as Claire.
Alexander Shaw plays Manus, Miley Locke returns as Georgie, Anya McKenna-Bruce plays Morten and Archie Smith returns as Ned.
What has Lucy Punch said about the Amandaland Christmas special?
Lucy Punch teased the return with a typically festive description of what viewers can expect.
"There's mistletoe, cheese straws and a middle-aged wannabe sexy Santa. We are all delighted to be back again for an Amandaland Xmas Spesh!"
Writer and director Holly Walsh and writer Laurence Rickard also welcomed the BBC's decision to commission another Christmas special.
"We are utterly thrilled that the BBC have given us the ultimate Christmas present of another special – and an hour long one at that! Cameras are now rolling and we are so sure that you'll love this gift we've got for you, we're not even enclosing the receipt."
How successful was the last Amandaland Christmas special?
The 2025 Amandaland Christmas special became the UK's most-watched comedy episode of the year, attracting 7.4 million viewers over 28 days.
It was also the top broadcaster comedy episode among 16-34-year-olds, with an audience of 1.2 million.
Series two averaged 4.5 million viewers across 28 days.
The first series also won Best Scripted Comedy at the BAFTA Television Awards 2026, while Lucy Punch and Philippa Dunne were nominated in the BAFTA Female Performance in a Comedy category alongside Jennifer Saunders for the 2025 Christmas special.
Philippa Dunne also won the Comedy Performance – Female award at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards 2026 for series one.
Who makes the Amandaland Christmas special?
The one-hour Christmas special is a Merman production for BBC iPlayer and BBC One.
Amandaland was created by Sharon Horgan, Holly Walsh, Helen Serafinowicz and Barunka O'Shaughnessy.
The special is written by Holly Walsh and Laurence Rickard, with Arnold Widdowson as series producer and Walsh directing.
The executive producers for Merman are Sharon Horgan, Holly Walsh, Helen Serafinowicz, Laurence Rickard and Faye Dorn.
Seb Barwell and Roya Eslami are the BBC commissioning editors, while Lionsgate distributes the series worldwide.
Seb Barwell said: "Last year's special proved to be the Christmas tradition we didn't know we needed, so we're delighted to have Amanda and friends back for another one. This brilliant team have gifted us a bumper hour-long episode, stuffed with all the humour and heart you could wish for."
The Amandaland Christmas special has been announced ahead of the show's third series.
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