![Absolutely Fabulous. Image shows from L to R: Bubble (Jane Horrocks), Saffron (Julia Sawalha), Edina (Jennifer Saunders), Mother (June Whitfield), Patsy (Joanna Lumley). Copyright: Saunders And French Productions / BBC Absolutely Fabulous. Image shows from L to R: Bubble (Jane Horrocks), Saffron (Julia Sawalha), Edina (Jennifer Saunders), Mother (June Whitfield), Patsy (Joanna Lumley). Copyright: Saunders And French Productions / BBC](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/comedies/300x200/a/absolutely_fabulous.jpg)
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
Episode menu
Series 4, Episode 5 - Small Opening
Further details
![Absolutely Fabulous. Image shows from L to R: Edina (Jennifer Saunders), Patsy (Joanna Lumley). Copyright: Saunders And French Productions / BBC Absolutely Fabulous. Image shows from L to R: Edina (Jennifer Saunders), Patsy (Joanna Lumley). Copyright: Saunders And French Productions / BBC](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/comedies/180x200_eps/a/absolutely_fabulous_episode_0405.jpg)
On a drugs bender with Patsy, Edina calls the police when she answers her telephone and thinks she hears her long lost son Serge calling for help.
In the fallout, Saffron is forced to admit to her Mother that she has written a play about her own life, and that she must have accidentally dialled her mother during rehearsals. Edina instantly assumes that the play is all about her and will publicly blacken her character.
Edina and Patsy subject Saffy to a tirade of verbal vitriol about how much she had and how much was done for her - including a flashback to a drunken Edina and Patsy taking Saffron to a park in the eighties and playing on the equipment themselves. Saffy returns fire by reminding them of the neglect and irresponsibility that she endured and refuses to back down and cancel the play.
As the rest of the family gather for the play's opening, Saffron invites Edina. Curious, she attends with Patsy and is pleasantly surprised when the play is recieved as a comedy - disappointing the young playwright.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Friday 28th September 2001
- Time
- 9pm
- Channel
- BBC One
- Length
- 30 minutes
Cast & crew
Jennifer Saunders | Edina |
Joanna Lumley | Patsy |
Julia Sawalha | Saffron |
June Whitfield | Mother |
Jane Horrocks | Bubble |
Christopher Malcolm | Justin (Saffy's Father) |
Naoko Mori | Sarah |
Mo Gaffney | Bo (Marshall's Wife) |
Christopher Ryan | Marshall (Edina's Ex-husband) |
Jane Horrocks | Katy Grin |
Lill Roughley | Jude |
Miles Western | Martin |
Emma Pierson | Kasha |
Josh Neale | Josh |
Melanie Jessop | Police Woman |
Ashley Clish | Saffron As Child |
Jon Plowman | Usher |
Jennifer Saunders | Writer |
Ruby Wax | Script Editor |
Christine Gernon | Director |
Jon Plowman | Producer |
Jonathan Paul Llewellyn (as Jonathan P. Llewellyn) | Producer |
Chris Wadsworth | Editor |
Harry Banks | Production Designer |
Simon Brint | Composer |