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: 519
Press clippings Page 11
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.
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 2011Jennifer Saunders: TV is no laughing matter for women
Jennifer Saunders, star of the BBC's Absolutely Fabulous, says it is harder for women to succeed in television than it was 20 years ago.
Tim Walker, The Telegraph, 23rd December 2011Jennifer Saunders: I need a drink, and more chemicals!
Jennifer Saunders seems very relaxed, her booted feet up on a pouffe, snuggled in a big woolly cardie, sipping a mug of tea and talking openly about everything from the menopause to depression, cancer and her empty nest syndrome. Oh, and there are a few laughs, too.
Ginny Dougary, Radio Times, 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 2011Jennifer 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.
Simon Gage, Metro, 22nd December 2011Ab 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.
Monkey, The Guardian, 20th December 2011June Whitfield interview
The return of Ab Fab finds June Whitfield on top form. She's even hopeful of a small part in Downton Abbey.
Glenda Cooper, The Telegraph, 20th 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 2011