
Joanna Lumley
- 78 years old
- English
- Actor and writer
Press clippings Page 17
The second of the festive specials resurrecting the badly behaved fashionistas. Edina Monsoon (Jennifer Saunders) still purports to be a top PR guru, but her client list is getting shorter by the day. To make matters worse, daughter Saffron (Julia Sawalha) despises her. So, when Eddie and Patsy (Joanna Lumley) meet a French film star whom Saffy adores, she's determined to sign her up, show she's still got it and claw back some family respect. The trouble is, the woman's talents aren't all that they seem. Keep the Bolly on ice, because the sitcom will be back with an Olympic-themed third instalment later this year.
The Telegraph, 29th December 2011Previewers 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.
Gerard Gilbert, The Independent, 23rd December 2011A minute with June Whitfield and Joanna Lumley
Twenty years after the first broadcast, Absolutely Fabulous is back on BBC One on Christmas Day - in the first of three 30-minute special episodes.
Fiona Wickham, BBC Blogs, 23rd December 2011An uproarious comedy treat, Edina (Jennifer Saunders) and Patsy's (Joanna Lumley) first appearance after a seven-year absence does not disappoint. A script bursting with fan-pleasing moments sees Edina belatedly embracing middle age ("I haven't got any real hormones left, darling, I'm just held together with gels, pills and suppositories"), assembling most of the original cast to welcome home her daughter Saffy (Julia Sawalha). A guest appearance by The Killing's Sofie Gråbøl is one of many highlights.
Gerald O'Donovan, The Telegraph, 23rd December 2011Joanna Lumley interview: Ab Fab will steal Christmas
Joanna Lumley talks about the boozy return of Patsy and Edina in Absolutely Fabulous this Christmas.
Tessa Gibbs, The Telegraph, 20th December 2011Audio: 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.
Mark Lawson, BBC News, 20th December 2011Joanna Lumley interview
Bond girl, fashion icon, renowned stage actor, Gurkha champion: Joanna Lumley has had a wonderful career. But it is her portrayal of Patsy in Absolutely Fabulous that is stamped on the nation's consciousness. She talks about the new episodes of the show.
Stuart Jeffries, The Observer, 11th December 2011Absolutely Fabulous - first look at the cast for Xmas
Here's a sneak peek, sweeties, at Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley and co ahead of the seasonal specials.
Radio Times, 22nd November 2011Graham Norton may be heaving a sigh of relief that Jonathan Ross's ITV chat show finished on Saturday, alleviating competition for guests. Tonight the Telegraph agony uncle's line-up features a strong British contingent: actress Joanna Lumley, whose Greek Odyssey is currently on ITV1, Scottish actor James McAvoy (Atonement), who voices the forthcoming animated movie Arthur Christmas; professional Scouser John Bishop, who brings the jokes; and music from Sheffield combo Arctic Monkeys.
Vicki Power, The Telegraph, 27th October 2011Joanna Lumley: We must get Ab Fab right
Joanna Lumley believes it is a little bit "mad" to reprise Absolutely Fabulous.
Associated Press, 29th September 2011