Absolutely Fabulous’s Joanna Lumley: ‘We didn’t even know if it would get made’

Lumley explained that it’s impossible to predict a response until something is presented to an audience, as was the case with Amandaland.

Rehearsing plays is much like that anticipation you feel before a debut performance. It stems from uncertainty, as you never truly know how things will unfold on stage. Yet, you trust that you’ve given it your all in preparation.

You’ve practiced well, executed perfectly, and achieved it. In this instance, you’ve captured it flawlessly. You’ve given your best, and we appreciate it.

You can’t predict how something will become iconic until it actually does. Before that point, it’s hard to say whether it will have a significant impact or not.

She added, “The first episode, or pilot, of Ab Fab was uncertain; we weren’t sure if it would even get approved.

In what way would it be apparent? It wouldn’t be clear until the crowd started laughing, as that’s when we typically have to anticipate such responses. No worries or expectations, though.

Approximately two years following the conclusion of Motherland, Amandaland will be making its debut on screens, featuring the return of Dame Penelope Wilton (Amanda), Lucy Punch (Julie) and Philippa Dunne (Kathleen) in their respective roles from the original series.

More recently, co-writer Holly Walsh articulated her reasons for choosing Amanda from Punch as the ideal character for a spin-off series. She highlighted that this decision was mainly due to the compelling cliffhanger surrounding the character at the finale of Motherland.

She mentioned: “It’s intriguing to pen down the tale of someone who believes they’ve achieved success in life, only to stumble. For Amanda, the distance between South Harlesden and Chiswick might be just five miles, but it feels vast due to her strong focus on postcodes.