Dame Joanna Lumley has revealed the deeply moving backstory of a canine star who captured the hearts of the entire cast and crew on the set of the BBC's Amandaland.
A Beloved Cast Member's Harrowing Start
While discussing the filming of the show's upcoming Christmas special, Lumley disclosed that Joan's dog, Cally, had a traumatic beginning to life. The animal was just four weeks old when she was discarded, thrown from a moving car while inside a plastic bag. Despite this horrific start, Lumley described the dog as having blossomed into an "enchanting and wise little creature" who frequently leaned against the actors' legs and gazed into their eyes.
Festive Special and Series Future
The Amandaland Christmas special is scheduled to air on BBC One and iPlayer at 9.15pm on Christmas Day. The episode sees Amanda, played by Lucy Punch, and her family travel to Aunt Joan's country house, with plans disrupted by the arrival of Mal and Anne. The BBC teaser hints at Amanda's struggle to recreate childhood Christmas magic and a potential family secret uncovered by Mal.
The series, a spin-off from Motherland, aired its first full run earlier in 2025 and has already been confirmed for a second season in 2026. The festive special features the core cast, including Joanna Lumley as Felicity, Lucy Punch as Amanda, Philippa Dunne as Anne, and Jennifer Saunders as Joan.
On-Set Bonds and Co-Star Praise
Lumley fondly recalled a specific scene filmed in a barn with Jennifer Saunders, who plays her on-screen sister, and Cally. She said the moment, with the dog's head resting in her lap, was "gorgeous beyond words" and that the entire crew and cast were utterly charmed by the animal.
Lucy Punch echoed the sentiment of on-set joy, declaring her favourite moments were "every single scene with Jennifer Saunders," which she called "magnificent, a hilarious delight." She added that scenes featuring both Saunders and Lumley were "even better." Punch teased the Christmas special's tone, quipping: "It begins and ends with a pavlova and has loads of laughs in between."
Jennifer Saunders also expressed her delight at joining the cast for the holiday episode, stating that playing Lumley's sister was "guaranteed to be a laugh."
