Joanna Lumley

We know who Walliams is, appearing in this new sketch show, but who's the friend? That'll be Joanna Lumley, who radiates such professionalism - whether playing herself, leading a troupe of Lumley-decoys, or a Hollywood-besotted Mary Berry ("A woman of my age knows her way around an eclair, Paul"; "I master-bake thinking of you") - she tosses armfuls of pixie-glitter into every crevice. Highlights include a rude tanning salon, a boy band with an incongruous member, and Walliams's unique take on Oscar Wilde.

Here's one that will make you feel really old: it's 10 years since the final series of Little Britain aired on BBC One. The show that made David Walliams a bona-fide star served as a launchpad for a career that has seen him take on a judging role on Britain's Got Talent, undertake jaw-dropping charity work (his Thames swim remains a crowning glory), and become a successful children's author.

Now he's going back to his comedy roots with a one-off Christmas TV special. Titled Walliams & Friend, it sees the comedian return to the type of sketches that helped make his name - and his 'friend' is a very special guest indeed. It is, of course, the absolutely fabulous Joanna Lumley, who remains a brilliant comedic presence.

By its very nature sketch comedy is hit-or-miss, but Walliams & Friend is thankfully more of the former - from a hilariously terrible gameshow contestant played by Walliams, to a meeting between Joanna Lumley and her own personal team of, erm, other Joanna Lumleys.

And then there's the Bake Off sketch - you'll never look at Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry in the same way ever again.

The 40-minute special is daft fun - and likely to be even funnier after a few Christmas Eve sherries. Here's hoping for more Walliams & Friend episodes in the future with a different guest star each time.

Review - Walliams and Friends: five things we learned

nlikely double act David Walliams and Joanna Lumley coin a new catchphrase and soil the Bake Off forever.

The friend of the title is Joanna Lumley, as David Walliams accesses his inner Two Ronnies to generally profitable effect. There's a product-placement skit worthy of Ronnies Barker and Corbett, as well as Oscar Wilde as a lewd northern comedian, a team of Joanna Lumley lookalikes, a Bake Off pastiche and much, much more. Better than you might expect.

Radio Times review

The "Friend" is Joanna Lumley, who accompanies David Walliams through an inevitably uneven, but more-winners-than-losers sketch show. There's a disturbing pastiche of The Great British Bake Off with Paul Hollywood (Walliams, alarming with hedgehog hair) and Mary Berry (Lumley) unable to conceal their lust for one another.

In what feels like an updating of Ronnie Barker's classic Mispronunciation Sketch, Walliams is a party guest who invented autocorrect, and he drags up to play a passive-aggressive, glowing orange tanning salon receptionist. But maybe you'll prefer his Oscar Wilde, or the businessman dad who gives his little daughter a bedtime story in bullet points.

Joanna Lumley & Jennifer Saunders at fashion awards

They've been busy filming Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie over the past few months. And Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders clearly can't get enough of reprising their iconic roles for the big screen adaptation of the popular sitcom since they showed up at The 2015 British Fashion Awards in character as Patsy Stone and Edina Monsoon.

Joanna Lumley joined by The Krankies on Ab Fab film

Joanna Lumley went hand-in-hand with Scottish comedian Janette Tough, who is famed for playing Wee Jimmy Krankie and has previously popped up in the sitcom.

Filming pictures: Ab Fab stars visit Kate Moss grave

Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley, in their Absolutely Fabulous guises as Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone, make a trek to supermodel and popular culture icon Kate Moss' shrine on the Thames.

Jeremy Lloyd died penniless, documents reveal

The successful screenwriter and actor who was once married to Joanna Lumley left a net estate of nil after his outstanding affairs were settled.

Absolutely Fabulous movie debuts first look picture

Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley's iconic characters as are back so expect plenty of empty wine bottles and shenanigans on the big screen.