Absolutely Fabulous

With its frank depictions of drug and alcohol use and irresponsible, irreverent and frequently illegal behaviour, the series gained a large and loyal following as well as attracting censure from various groups.

The characters played by Lumley (Patsy) and Saunders (Eddy) became popular subjects for emulation by female impersonators and Halloween revellers. While the programme was widely popular in Britain and gained noteworthy attention in the United States, where it was broadcast by the Comedy Central network (and, from 2003, by the Oxygen network), it has found a particularly strong following among gay men in both of these countries as well as in Australia and Canada, where the show has been broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the Comedy Network respectively.

The Premise

Edina owns a public relations firm whose only steady client is fading pop singer Lulu, who is barely hanging on by a thread. (In later years, this switched to former Spice Girl Emma Bunton.) Amidst her struggling business Edina is desperate to give off the aura of success, wealth and fabulousness.

The show circles around Edina's constant struggle to achieve fame and success amidst the disapproval of her daughter and the constant presence of her dottering, senile elderly mother. Throughout Patsy is at her side encouraging the behaviours that are constantly causing her conflict. Also in and out of her life are her ex-husband Justin (and his gay lover Oliver) and her other ex-husband Marshall, with his scheming new-age California wife Bo.

Much of the comedy of the show is physical, usually derived from Edina and Patsy's drunken states. A recurring gag found new ways for Edina to fall headfirst down her kitchen stairs at least once every season. Episodes also found the pair travelling to locations like New York, Paris and Morocco, usually with complaining daughter in tow.

Trivia

Directed by:
Bob Spiers

Produced by:
Jon Plowman

5 seasons, and several one-off specials

Broadcast (in the U.K.): 1992-1996; 2001-2003

TV Channel: BBC2 / BBC1

BBC Television

• Edina is allegedly based on Lynne Franks.
• At least two "final episodes" were made with the characters older and not much wiser, but the series returned due to popular demand.
• There have been two "spin-offs" of the show. One, called "Mirrorball," found the same cast placed in a totally different plot and setting, playing new characters. The pilot was sold, however, as the first season was being planned, Jennifer Saunders decided to do a new season of Absolutely Fabulous. The second, as of yet untitled (though the rumour is it may be called The Bo Show), is a spin-off based around the character of Bo, played by Mo Gaffney.
• In a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes drawn up by the British Film Institute in 2000, voted for by industry professionals, Absolutely Fabulous was placed 17th.
• The theme song is called This Wheel's on Fire written by Bob Dylan and performed in this instance by Julie Driscoll.
• The name of the main character, Edina Monsoon, is a play on the surname of Jennifer Saunders' husband, Adrian Edmonson.
• Patsy's full name is Eurydice Colette Clytemnestra Dido Bathsheba Rabelais Patricia Cocteau Stone.
  

  Cast

• Jennifer Saunders - Edina Monsoon ("Eddy")
• Joanna Lumley - Patsy Stone ("Pats"), Edina's best friend
• Julia Sawalha - Saffron ("Saffy"), Edina's daughter
• June Whitfield - June Monsoon ("Mother" or "Gran"), Edina's mother
• Jane Horrocks - Bubble, Edina's assistant; celebrity personality Katy Grin
  

  Minor Roles

• Kathy Burke as Magda
• Mo Gaffney as Bo
• Helen Lederer as Catriona
• Christopher Malcolm as Justin
• Christopher Ryan as Marshall
• Harriet Thorpe as Fleur
• Naoko Mori as Sarah
• Adrian Edmondson as Hamish
• Miranda Richardson as Bettina
• Patrick Barlow as Max
• Marianne Faithful in a guest cameo as God

  Episodes

  
  See:List of Absolutely Fabulous episodes

  Remakes

• Absolument Fabuleux (2001) was a French feature film remake written and directed by Gabriel Aghion, starring Josiane Balasko in the Eddie role, and Nathalie Baye as Patsy. Jennifer Saunders was reportedly very pleased with the adaptation and even had a small cameo as a spectator at a fashion show.

• An attempted American remake was put into motion by Roseanne Barr but never got off the ground. It was to star Carrie Fisher. However Barr did incorporate many elements of the show into the final season of her eponymous show Roseanne, in which Roseanne wins the lottery, including hiring some of the guest stars of Absolutely Fabulous.
  

  Similar shows

• Cybill (1995) was an American sitcom about a Hollywood actress and mother who lived with her wisecracking daughter and had a boozing best friend.

• High Society (1995) was an American sitcom about a divorced mother who owned a publishing house that pressed her best friend's romance novels. They let an old college girlfriend who was pregnant and struggling move in with them.
  

  External links

• Official BBC Website
• BBC Comedy Guide
• British Sitcom Guide
• Phill.co.uk Comedy Guide