Amanda Holden admits she was so starstruck by seeing Dame Joanna Lumley at the Amandaland premiere that she needed to 'take a seat'

A starstruck Amanda Holden admitted she needed to 'take a seat' when glamour icon Dame Joanna Lumley walked into the star-studded premiere of Amandaland last month. The Britain's Got Talent judge - who describes herself as a 'superfan' and even gets a namecheck in episode three - joined Lucy Punch, Phillippa Dunne, and Dame Joanna for a screening and Q&A session at the exclusive Covent Garden event.

The highly anticipated spin-off of the BAFTA-winning sitcom Motherland picks up where the original series left off, following Chiswick divorcee Amanda as she navigates life with two teenagers and her mother - the upper-crust matriarch Felicity - brought to life by the legendary Dame. Lucy, 47, reprises her role as Amanda in the spin-off and confessed she shares her character's mix of determination and delusion in real life.

Speaking to the audience at the swanky venue, she revealed: 'Amanda has a sort of teenage hopefulness bordering on delusion that I share. 'I don't think that I've ever, in all my years, ever had an audition for a job, whatever it is, that I haven't been convinced I was going to get it. I've gone, I'm perfect for this and I'm going to move my children to New Zealand!'. A starstruck Amanda Holden admitted she needed to 'take a seat' when glamour icon Dame Joanna Lumley walked into the star-studded premiere of Amandaland last month.

The Britain's Got Talent judge - who describes herself as a 'superfan' and even gets a namecheck in episode three - joined Lucy Punch, Phillippa Dunne, and Dame Joanna for a screening and Q&A session at the exclusive Covent Garden event. Reflecting on Amanda's journey in the spin-off, Lucy added: 'Her mask has come off now and she's sort of fallen. She wants that status back that she had and is desperate, and that's how she designs herself.'.

The chemistry between the cast and creators on stage was palpable as Lucy explained that she and Phillipa - who returns as Amanda's loyal friend Anne - 'just clicked from day one.'. And there was nothing but praise for the Derry Girls actress, as Phillipa quickly became the subject of endless admiration and co-creator Sharon Horgan revealed everyone on set is 'obsessed' with the Irish star. 'Literally, there isn't anyone on the set that isn't obsessed with her. Everyone is like, she's so nice, can I be her friend, can you put in a good word,' the Emmy-nominated writer said.

Dame Joanna also lavished praise on the actress, teasing a standout moment for her character towards the end of the series which will see Anne 'do something right towards the end that's brave and wonderful.'. 'I suddenly think oh my god look at this little funny blob - she's quite amusing,' the iconic star joked. Amandaland, added Dame Joanna, 'was magic to be a part of' as the cast 'are out of this world.'.

The spin-off of Motherland picks up where the original series left off, following Amanda and her mother - the upper-crust matriarch Felicity - brought to life by the legendary Dame. Lucy, 47, reprises her role as Amanda in the spin-off and confessed she shares her character's mix of determination and delusion in real life. The role marks yet another mother-daughter character collaboration with her Amandaland co-star Lucy.

The national treasure also discussed her typecasting in villainous, icy roles - often as sharp-edged matriarchs. 'I'm always cast as horrid savage old grannies and mothers, I don't know what it is, because I'm a sunny character! It's written into my contract, I must be mean,' she revealed. 'She's so selfish and so self-regarding, I just adore her,' the screen icon added of her character at the premiere.

The role marks yet another mother-daughter character collaboration with her Amandaland co-star Lucy. The pair first co-starred in the 2004 jukebox musical fantasy comedy, Ella Enchanted, where Dame Joanna played the wicked stepmother Dame Olga, while Lucy starred as one of the 'ugly sisters.'. 'Lucy and I met years and years ago when Anne Hathaway was but a babe doing Ella Enchanted,' she reminisced. The 78-year-old also revealed her scenes with on-screen grandchildren Miley Locke (Georgie) and Alexander Shaw (Manus) left her in awe.

'It was a particular thrill to work with the two young ones, Miley and Alex, who played the children. They are really remarkable, wonderful young people,' she said. And it seems they knew exactly how to put the veteran performer in her place. 'We as actors all think we can get away with it and say roughly the right lines, but not them, they just look at you with beady eyes and correct you,' she joked.

The young actors Miley Locke and Alexander Shaw - a descendant of Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw - were absent from the premiere due to school commitments. 'I totally would've pulled mine [children] out for this,' Q&A host Amanda joked. When pressed about the possibility of an Amandaland Christmas special, co-creator Holly Walsh remained tight-lipped. 'I'm not allowed to say! We just had one Christmas Amanda, let a year go by,' she teased.