Absolutely Fabulous seems to be the sitcom that just keeps coming back for more. Since it’s debut in 1992 it’s notched up 39 episodes and five series and even a big screen version.
The idea for the series came from a 1990 sketch featured on the popular TV series “French & Saunders” entitled: “Modern Mother and Daughter”
Two years later, n November of 1992, Absolutely Fabulous made it’s TV debut. Initially running for three series until 1995. It returned briefly for a series finale in the form of a two-part television film entitled The Last Shout in 1996. However this was not the end….
In 2001, the series returned. Creator Jennifer Saunders had submitted a pilot for a new sitcom entitled: Mirrorball. Managing to recruit almost all the original Ab-Fab cast for new roles, the intention was to develop Mirrorball into a full series.
However, Saunders felt the characters were far too rich and interesting to put aside, and were far better suited for her new story ideas, so instead she proposed a new series of Absolutely Fabulous to the BBC.
So in 2001 series four made it’s debut. It would be 2003 before series five, but the gap was bridged in 2002 by a one hour special. After series four finished in 2003, Ab-Fab popped up again for a one hour special in 2004.
After short sketch for Comic Relief in 2005, it seemed that this really was the end when Jennifer Saunders announced she would not be writing or playing Edina again. The end? Not quite…
In August 2011, it was announced that a further series of three programmes was being made to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the original series. The first of these was broadcast at Christmas the same year. Two more followed in 2012.
There had been rumours of a film version since 2011 and in 2016 Ab-Fab was back, this time on the big screen.
Summary
Edina “Eddy” Monsoon (Saunders) and Patsy Stone (Lumley) are a pair of high-powered career women on the London fashion scene. Eddy runs her own PR firm and Patsy holds a sinecure position at a top British fashion magazine.
The two women use their considerable financial resources to indulge in alcohol, recreational drugs, and chasing the latest fads in an attempt to maintain their youth and recapture their glory days as Mods in Swinging London.
Clips
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Cast
Jennifer Saunders
Joanna Lumley
Julia Sawalha
June Whitfield
Jane Horrocks
Details
Channel: BBC1
Created By: Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French (original sketch)
Written By: Jennifer Saunders
Original Transmission Dates:
Series 1-3: 12th November 1992 – 7th November 1996
Series 4-5: 31st August 2001 – 25th December 2004
20th Anniversary Specials:
25th December 2011 – 23rd July 2012