Absolutely Fabulous stars Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders - reunite for Christmas special
Fans were delighted when Absolutely Fabulous legends, Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders, reunited to film a Chrismas special this week.
In an Absolutely Fabulous reunion - Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders are set to share the screen together once more for a Christmas special. Fans of bonkers Eddie and Patsy in the long-running BBC comedy were delighted to see the actors together at a screening of the Amandaland Christmas special at London's BFI Southbank on Tuesday (December 16).
Saunders and Lumley last appeared in Ab Fab in the 2016 movie, but arrived together for a screening of the Amandaland special - a spin-off from it comedy Motherland. Lumley, 79, stars in Amandaland as Felicity Sanderson - mother of lead character in the BBC show, played by Lucy Punch - while 67-year-old Saunders will feature in a guest appearance as her sister, Joan.
The star - who shot to fame through her double-act with fellow comedian Dawn French - said she was thrilled to be reuniting with her partner in crime from Ab Fab. "I am delighted to be joining the fabulous Amandaland gang for a Christmas special," she said.
"Playing Joanna's on-screen sister is guaranteed to be a laugh. Who doesn't love a family reunion SoHa style?" And she said the strength of the writing for the sitcom made the decision to appear an easy one, adding: "It's just really well written. Proper character jokes and funny performances, plenty of falling over. I think it's just terrific. I love it."
However, Lumley said fans expecting anything like the antics of Eddie and Patsy would be disappointed, saying: "We were playing characters as far from Edina and Patsy as can be imagined."
But she said it was great fun being reunited with her long-time co-star, adding: "Everyone adored having her there, especially me, and it all felt empty when the Christmas episode was over and she had gone."
In the special, set to air on BBC One at 9.15pm on Christmas Day, the characters are set to endure a troubled festive period during a visit to the countryside.
"Amanda and the family head to Aunt Joan’s country house, but the plans change when Mal and Anne tag along and she struggles to recreate the magical Christmases she spent there as a child," the synopsis said. "Anne’s in despair at being separated from her family, and Felicity is increasingly irritated by her sister’s constant high spirits. Meanwhile Mal sees a hidden photo that seems to reveal a deep family secret."