BBC comedy with iconic star WILL return for Christmas special after being mysteriously axed at the last moment in 2025

A POPULAR BBC comedy will finally air its Christmas special after it was suddenly axed last year before it was due to air. Diane Morgan’s hit show Mandy has been a popular comedy programme for the Beeb and fans were left delighted last year when it was revealed that the show would be having it’s first ever festive special. Mandy’s Christmas special will air this year after being pulled Credit: BBC BBC bosses axed the comedy unexpectedly at the last moment Credit: BBC However, programme bosses pulled the show at the last moment. The BBC suggested that parts of the programme needed to be “updated” – with various reports later emerging that jokes about Vladimir Putin were understood to be the cause of the programme being pulled. Sign up for the TV newsletter Thank you! Now, the BBC has confirmed that the episode will be airing this festive season instead. It is not explicitly clear if the programme has had major re-edits or will air as originally planned. But the Christmas special will instead air this year Credit: BBC Actress Diane Morgan fronts the series Credit: Getty At the time, it was reported that Putin was portrayed in a plotline for the episode. Reports which emerged earlier this year about the axed episode suggested that Diane’s character Mandy killed Putin and then brought his severed head back to the UK. However, it later emerged that it was in fact Putin’s body double. The Christmas special, titled The Mandy Who Knew Too Much, was filmed back in January 2025 alongside series four episodes, which aired in the summer of 2025. Most read in TV A synopsis for the episode at the time, read: “Mandy rarely dabbles in global diplomacy, especially over Christmas when it’s so cold out and there’s good telly on, but when she does, you can bet that she makes a real difference to the balance of power in the world.” The latest series of Mandy featured a number of famous cameos in consumer king Martin Lewis, Paddy McGuinness, Sian Gibson, and ex-EastEnder Cheryl Fergison. Show creator Diane is one of the UK’s biggest comedy stars. Best known for playing hapless journo Philomena Cunk, she’s also starred as dim office worker Kath in Ricky Gervais‘ After Life and unfiltered and chaotic mum Liz in BBC sitcom Motherland. 1 comment1