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

  • JustWatch Streaming rank this week: 499

Episode menu

Series 4, Episode 1 - Parralox

A new TV venture's on the cards for Edina, and she's lined up a guest spot with Richard and Judy to help launch a new campaign; for Patsy, life revolves around a skin-freezing serum called Parralox. Saffy, meanwhile, hopes for a government job promoting British culture.

Further details

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

Edina has a life coach, a new television company and a new business partner in the gushing, artificial 'TV personality' Katy Grin; however she appears no more able than ever, and the equally useless Bubble is of no help.

Eddy does, however, have an appearance lined up on Richard and Judy's morning TV show with Twiggy. If it goes well, it could be very profitable for a new gay pride campaign, 'fists across America'.

Meanwhile, Patsy has become the Fashion Editor of another magazine and is injecting 'Parralox' into her face to deal with unsightly lines. Saffy is desperate to land a government job and finally move out, but begs her mother not to have the treatment herself. Gran is still around, and seems to rather enjoy living in the wake of Edina's lifestyle.

Edina's TV appearance and Saffron's job interview are looking promising, but a drunken night out with Patsy and an episode with 'Parralox' results in disaster for all concerned.

Broadcast details

Date
Friday 31st August 2001
Time
9pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Sunday 11th December 2011 12:10am Gold
Wednesday 21st March 2012 2:30am Gold
Wednesday 21st March 2012 11:50pm Gold
Saturday 24th March 2012 11:40pm Gold
Wednesday 3rd July 2013 11:20pm Gold
Thursday 4th July 2013 2:25am Gold
Thursday 3rd April 2014 12:35am Gold
Thursday 3rd April 2014 2:15am Gold
Thursday 22nd May 2014 10:20pm Gold
Friday 23rd May 2014 1:30am Gold
Wednesday 15th October 2014 11:20pm Gold
Thursday 16th October 2014 2:50am Gold
Friday 19th June 2015 1:00am Gold
Friday 19th June 2015 3:15am Gold
Thursday 18th February 2016 11:20pm Gold
Friday 19th February 2016 3:00am Gold
Wednesday 15th February 2017 11:20pm W
Saturday 14th October 2017 9:00pm Gold
Thursday 23rd November 2017 10:00pm W
Thursday 22nd February 2018 9:20pm Gold
Thursday 22nd February 2018 11:40pm Gold
Friday 8th June 2018 11:40pm W
Wednesday 4th July 2018 2:00am Gold
Thursday 5th July 2018 1:10am Gold
Saturday 12th February 2022 11:00pm Gold
Sunday 13th February 2022 2:45am Gold
Saturday 11th June 2022 11:20pm Gold
Thursday 12th January 2023 11:00pm Gold
Friday 13th January 2023 2:15am Gold
Wednesday 1st February 2023 11:40pm Gold
Wednesday 10th May 2023 12:40am Gold

Cast & crew

Cast
Jennifer Saunders Edina
Joanna Lumley Patsy
Julia Sawalha Saffron
June Whitfield Mother
Jane Horrocks Bubble
Guest cast
Naoko Mori Sarah
Jane Horrocks Katy Grin
Bob Barrett Labour Party Man
Lesley Hornby (as Twiggy Lawson) Twiggy
Antony Cotton Damon
Tilly Blackwood Lady Candida De Denison-Bender
Stephen Gately Self
Michael Greco Self
Victoria Hervey (as Lady Victoria Hervey) Self
Judy Finnigan Self
Richard Madeley Self
Writing team
Jennifer Saunders Writer
Ruby Wax Script Editor
Production team
Bob Spiers 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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