Jennifer Saunders

Previewers have been asked not to reveal which of the characters has been away "doing bird" (in Patsy's words), which makes writing about the first new Ab Fab episode in six years a little bit on the tangential side. Not to worry, it's a gem, embracing such intervening technological advances as iPads (Bubble tries to draw on hers) and Twitter. Eddie (Jennifer Saunders) is ballooning ("not even the credit crunch can tighten your belt"), Patsy (Joanna Lumley) decides to claim her pension - if only she can find evidence that she exists - while applauding the summer riots ("I love a bit of extreme shopping"), and Bubble (Jane Horrocks) gives a bravura one-woman summary of the royal wedding. All that and a short but sweet cameo from Sofie Grabol, Sarah Lund in The Killing - this is the first and best of the three, new, 20th anniversary episodes.

Jennifer Saunders interview

Comedian Jennifer Saunders, 53, discusses the two new Christmas episodes of Absolutely Fabulous, taking the mick out of Elton John, and Madonna's sex life.

Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders did so well with their Christmas and New Year specials last year that they've been invited back. Listeners liked the way they talk to each other (occasionally tartly) as if they were in on the conversation. The guests are good too although you never quite know who's going to turn up. It could be Michael Palin, it might be Tracy Emin or even Clare Balding and her mum. Laughter is guaranteed. Ditto music.

Ab Fab: not before the watershed, sweetie

Absolutely Fabulous creator Jennifer Saunders is absolutely clear about her views of a BBC suit who rang her over where to schedule the comedy, reports the Daily Mail.

Audio: Absolutely Fabulous characters 'more desperate'

Absolutely Fabulous is to return to BBC One later this year with three specials to celebrate the show's 20th anniversary.

Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley will return as Edina and Patsy along with other original cast members.

Saunders told Mark Lawson on Radio 4's Front Row that Edina and Patsy are "more desperate" as they age.

Interview: Jennifer Saunders, actress and comedienne

Crack open the bolly darling, Eddie and Patsy are back with a Christmas catch-up special. Jennifer Saunders reflects on the sheer joy of reuniting the Ab Fab team after her recovery from cancer.

Jennifer Saunders on her breast cancer battle

Jennifer Saunders has spoken out about her battle with breast cancer and revealed it brought on the menopause and depression.

Kate Moss fury at Jennifer Saunders' gag

Jennifer Saunders joked "Kate Moss is an old model." It's the fashion equivalent of telling a child Santa doesn't exist.

Now this could be interesting: Robin Williams is a guest tonight and he is a notoriously loose cannon. Undoubtedly he's a clever and witty comedian, but he finds it hard to turn himself off. So will Williams be "on" when he takes his place on the Norton sofa? He shares the limelight here with busy young Elijah Wood (recently on BBC3 in the very odd US comedy Wilfred) and with our own Jennifer Saunders, who returns to TV screens at Christmas with an Absolutely Fabulous special.

Tonight's chat-show guests are American comedian-actor Robin Williams and actor Elijah Wood (yes, they have a film out - the animated penguin comedy Happy Feet Two), plus Jennifer Saunders, who has recovered from breast cancer and is working on new episodes of Absolutely Fabulous to mark the sitcom's 20th anniversary next year. Music comes from JLS.