British Comedy Guide
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

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

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Series 4, Episode 6 - Menopause

A major e-mail mishap leads to an exodus of clients from Eddy's business. Whilst she struggles to salvage a morsel from her TV and PR enterprises, Patsy is diagnosed with osteoporosis, and Saffy forces the pair to attend a meeting of Menopause Anonymous.

Further details

Absolutely Fabulous. Image shows from L to R: Edina (Jennifer Saunders), Patsy (Joanna Lumley). Copyright: Saunders And French Productions / BBC

Edina's PR business is on its last legs after Bubble manages to e-mail the entirety of Eddy's private correspondence to everyone in her address book. Edina's arch-rival Claudia Bing wastes no time in picking up her clients and trying to buy her out.

Meanwhile, osteoporosis kicks in for Patsy, who is pleased to learn that she has the lowest bone density on record. Saffron invites a menopause support group to the house and forces Edina and Patsy to attend, terrified of a vision she has of the pair in the future - needy, falling apart but still hedonistic.

Edina decides that the only way to save her business is to sell off the television company. Claudia Bing is shocked and impressed when she learns of 'Radical TV' and quickly buys Katy Grin's half of the company when Katy announces her intention to sell.

Eddy shrewdly manages to flog off her half of the company, which currently has no programmes, to Claudia in return for a hefty sum and the return of several key PR clients. With business back on track, Edina celebrates with Patsy, whose hormone tablets have made her much homelier.

Saffron has a terrifying nightmare of Patsy threatening to impregnate herself with a vial of Mick Jagger's sperm unless she is allowed to move in to the house, but wakes to find that Edina and Patsy are back to their old selves.

Broadcast details

Date
Friday 5th October 2001
Time
9pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
30 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Jennifer Saunders Edina
Joanna Lumley Patsy
Julia Sawalha Saffron
June Whitfield Mother
Jane Horrocks Bubble
Guest cast
Harriet Thorpe Fleur
Helen Lederer Catriona
Mo Gaffney Bo (Marshall's Wife)
Christopher Ryan Marshall (Edina's Ex-husband)
Celia Imrie Claudia Bing
Jane Horrocks Katy Grin
Lesley Hornby (as Twiggy Lawson) Twiggy
Antony Cotton Damon
Tilly Blackwood Lady Candida De Denison-Bender
Jeillo Edwards Jeillo
Joanna Bowen Jobo
Ruby Wax Beth
Leigh Lawson Self
Dale Winton Self
Writing team
Jennifer Saunders Writer
Ruby Wax Script Editor
Production team
Christine Gernon Director
Jon Plowman Producer
Jonathan Paul Llewellyn (as Jonathan P. Llewellyn) Producer
Chris Wadsworth Editor
Harry Banks Production Designer
Simon Brint Composer

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