Amandaland Christmas special first look: Lucy Punch is a 'middle-aged sexy Santa' as her social-climbing character prepares to host 'chaotic' festive bash as a So-Ha divorcée

Published: 11:00 EDT, 30 September 2026 | Updated: 11:09 EDT, 30 September 2026 As So-Ha’s foremost influencer, you’d think that she knows how to throw a festive soirée.But things won’t go quite according to plan for Amanda in the forthcoming Amandaland Christmas special, which has just been announced by the BBC.Lucy Punch’s social climbing single mother, forced to live in South Harlesden after her divorce, will return to screens in December after the second series aired earlier this year.And the hour-long, one-off episode will see her attempt to throw a lavish, last-minute party to impress an old school friend, which predictably ends in chaos.Giving fans of the Motherland spin-off a taste of what is to come, a new picture shows Ms Punch, 48, wearing a Father Christmas-inspired dress, cape and hat while posing next to a decorative reindeer and holding a clapperboard.‘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,’ said the actress.Lucy Punch dresses as a 'middle-aged sexy Santa' in a first look at the Amandaland Christmas special released on Wednesday - as her social-climbing character prepares to host a 'chaotic' festive bash as a So-Ha divorcéePhillipa Dunne, 45, will be returning as Amanda’s put-upon best friend Anne, while Joanna Lumley, 80, will reprise her role as Amanda’s snobby and obnoxious mother.Breeders actress Daisy Haggard, 48, is joining the cast as Amanda’s old school friend Millie, who prompts her to organise a ‘high-end’ party at the last minute on Christmas Eve, seeing it as her ticket back into her old world.Last year’s festive episode became the most-watched comedy episode of the year on British television, watched by 7.4 million viewers over 28 days.The second series was also a hit with viewers, with episodes averaging 4.5 million across the same period, and landing Ms Punch and Ms Dunne with Bafta nominations.Ms Dunne, who is best-known for playing the downtrodden Anne in the show, looked worlds away from the character as she arrived at the Baftas in May.Wearing a shimmering green floral sequin gown and with slicked-back hair and dramatic make-up, she appeared to have had a red carpet glow-up and was almost unrecognisable. Motherland spin-off Amandaland has been renewed for series three after the second instalment received rave reviews The BBC comedy series stars Lucy Punch, Joanna Lumley and Philippa Dunne and the channel launched series two last week which was branded a 'triumph' by viewers and critics ‘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,’ said Seb Barwell, BBC Commissioning Editor.‘This brilliant team have gifted us a bumper hour-long episode, stuffed with all the humour and heart you could wish for.’A third series has already been commissioned with filming expected to commence early next year.