Absolutely Fabulous
- TV sitcom
- BBC One / BBC Two
- 1992 - 2012
- 39 episodes (5 series)
Public relations maven Edina and best friend Patsy drive sensible daughter Saffron up the wall with their self-absorbed, substance-abusing escapades. Stars Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, Julia Sawalha, June Whitfield and Jane Horrocks
- Series 3, Episode 3 repeated Saturday at 12:40am on U&Gold
Streaming rank this week: 518
Episode menu
Olympics Special - Olympics
Further details
As the sound of the approaching Olympiad reaches deafening proportions Eddy is surprised that it is all about to start. She has rented out her house to a Hollywood A lister, but she is still living in it, as is her daughter, her mother, and her assistant Bubble.
Patsy tries to get into Eddy's body suit to look suitably great for the A listers, with disastrous results. Health professionals are summoned.
Eddy feels that doors are closing on her, age is catching up with her, invitations are not coming her way anymore and Stella McCartney's shop is closed to her.
To add to her depression, Bo and Marshall arrive to stay for the Games. Things can only get worse.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Monday 23rd July 2012
- Time
- 9:30pm
- Channel
- BBC One
- Length
- 30 minutes
Cast & crew
| Jennifer Saunders | Edina |
| Joanna Lumley | Patsy |
| Julia Sawalha | Saffron |
| June Whitfield | Mother |
| Jane Horrocks | Bubble |
| Mo Gaffney | Bo (Marshall's Wife) |
| Christopher Ryan | Marshall (Edina's Ex-husband) |
| Eleanor Thom | Olympic Reception Greeter |
| Beattie Edmondson | Olympic Reception Waitress |
| James O'Driscoll | Blind Paralympian |
| Stella McCartney | Self |
| Kelly Holmes (as Dame Kelly Holmes) | Self |
| Tanni Grey-Thompson (as Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson) | Self |
| Jennifer Saunders | Writer |
| Ruby Wax | Script Editor |
| Mandie Fletcher | Director |
| Jon Plowman | Executive Producer |
| Justin Davies | Producer |
| Jake Bernard | Editor |
| Harry Banks | Production Designer |
| Ian Masterson | Composer |
Videos
Absolutely Fabulous - BBC America Olympic Trailer
A trailer for the Ab Fab olympic special. This trailer is from BBC America so has an American feel to it.
London 2012 Olympics Special Preview
Getting into the Olympic spirit, Edina and Patsy prepare for a very special house guest...
Featuring: Joanna Lumley (Patsy) & Jennifer Saunders (Edina).
Press
Absolutely Fabulous Olympics special grabs 5.6 million
Absolutely Fabulous triumphed in last night's (July 23) ratings for its Olympics special, according to the latest overnight data.
Paul Millar, Digital Spy, 24th July 2012Absolutely Fabulous review: Over the line with a bang
Perhaps it's a bit of a tenuous link for Absolutely Fabulous to have an Olympic games special-elite athletics and the world that Edina and Patsy inhabit don't seem particularly well paired-but nevertheless, all things considering, it works surprisingly well. If this does indeed turn out to be the final episode of Absolutely Fabulous, then thankfully it's a good one.
Jack Sharp, On The Box, 23rd July 2012Absolutely Fabulous: A unholy mess
This unholy mess was all agonising enough anyway, but seriously suffers in comparison with another Olympic-themed BBC comedy, Twenty Twelve, which airs 24 hours later. That show is prescient, subtle and satirical. This one used a sledgehammer yet still kept missing its target.
Michael Hogan, The Telegraph, 23rd July 2012