Absolutely Fabulous

With a title like Absolutely Fabulous, it is hard to see how Jennifer Saunders's series will acknowledge the economic downturn when its latest instalment is broadcast over Christmas.

Still, Harriet Thorpe, who appears in it, tells me: "Jennifer keeps everything current. She acknowledges the recession, but doesn't make it all about that."

Speaking at the first night of Crazy for You in the West End, Thorpe adds: "It's very clever, and, of course, incredibly funny to see how the characters cope."

Their co-star June Whitfield says, perhaps even more depressingly, that Eddy and Patsy are shown to be getting on a bit. The actress, 85, insists that this "opens up a whole new avenue of hilarity".

Absolutely Fabulous 2011 - first pictures

Two pictures from the new series of the show.

Behind the scenes shooting the new series of Ab Fab

The Ab Fab rehearsing week was colourful... Baby Spice arrives - I luvs her.

Joanna Lumley: We must get Ab Fab right

Joanna Lumley believes it is a little bit "mad" to reprise Absolutely Fabulous.

The Killing's Sofie Gråbøl to have cameo in Ab Fab

It seems the most unlikely of TV guest appearances, reports the Sun. Sofie Gråbøl, she of the knitted jumper who solves crimes in dark, wet Copenhagen as detective Sarah Lund, is to appear alongside champagne-guzzling luvvies Patsy and Edina.

Absolutely Fabulous returns: thumbs up or thumbs down?

Why dabble with something so perfect? It can only taint the memory.

Absolutely Fabulous returns with BBC anniversary shows

Hit comedy Absolutely Fabulous is to return to BBC One later this year with three specials to celebrate the show's 20th anniversary, the BBC has said.

Why Absolutely Fabulous now looks absolutely prescient

Ab Fab is back. But if the characters once looked absurd, in 2011 they are absurdly recognisable.

Absolutely Fabulous to return

Crack open the Bolly, sweetie - Absolutely Fabulous is back.