Mamma Mia 2: Julie Walters admits fearing sequel Here We Go Again would be ‘awful’

But news that the ABBA-inspired movie would be returning sparked inevitable concerns from fans that it wouldn’t live up to the original.

Dame Julie Walters, it seems, was no exception.

Walters plays Rosie in both movies; part of a double-act with Christine Baranski.

“I couldn’t see how it could work and what they could do with us,” she told Good Housekeeping.

“My first reaction when my agent told me they were making Mamma Mia 2 was, ‘oh God no, it is going to be awful’.

“But the script was so good. I think it is fantastic. I think it is better than the first one.”

Walters also praised Cher, with whom she stars in Here We Go Again.

“It was heaven having her there, she’s a really great girl. I’m a massive fan,” she beamed.

“I always loved her as a kid. She was great and she sings this song at the end which makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck.”

Also reprising their roles in the follow-up are Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, Dominic Cooper and Meryl Streep.

Lily James, meanwhile, joins as the younger version of Streep’s Donna.