Good news, Possums – Dame Edna Everage is set to return to the BBC for one night only, with a few famous faces and music to boot.

The Barry Humphries character will invite a live studio audience onto her "enormous yacht" for the one-off special later this year, and will have a "few surprises" to boot.

"For one night on BBC One it will be us together," Dame Edna wrote on a postcard to fans. "You and I, my band, my guests, my crew because this ship is big enough for all of us."

Dame Edna
David M. Benett//Getty Images

Related: Dame Edna Everage actor Barry Humphries slams the "new Puritanism" of the BBC

She added of her return: "The world needs sunshine so I am very happy to welcome you all on board. One hour on my yacht is better than a lifetime on a cruise liner."

BBC commissioning editor Rachel Ashdown added: "Over the past 50 years Dame Edna has got to grips with the world's biggest stars and I am looking forward to seeing her welcome the current generation of celebrities to her sofa."

Humphries said back in 2012 that he would be retiring the character, though it didn't last long as Dame Edna was then revived just a year later.

Pink, Purple, Fashion, Magenta, Eyewear, Room, Dress, Glasses, Plant, Fashion design,
Channel 4

While the character's last major TV show was all the way back in 2007, she has made sporadic appearances over the years including in the Absolutely Fabulous movie and The Great Comic Relief Bake Off.

The Dame Edna Show which is a working title – will air later this year on BBC One.


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Sam Warner

Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International.  Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.