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: 743

Press clippings

Katy Wix cast in Big Boys after making big impression in gay sauna

Jack Rooke has recalled when he knew that Katy Wix had the "cult gay" appeal to play Jules, the over-enthusiastic student union officer in his Channel 4 sitcom Big Boys, after seeing how her performance in Absolutely Fabulous transfixed a Soho sauna.

British Comedy Guide, 25th January 2024

Dragons' Den fans accuse contestants of 'copying' idea from Ab Fab

Duo Daniel and Lina appeared in front of the formidable panel with their pitch, but fans were left baffled at the unexpected Absolutely Fabulous crossover. The pair began pitching their business Pop Specs but within seconds, viewers at home were quick to point out that the name sounded very familiar - though the Dragons didn't appear to twig on to the reference.

Kate Dennett, Daily Mail, 5th January 2024

British comedy's US disasters

As media continues to become more globally inclusive (largely thanks to the rise of streaming services) the idea of remaking anything to fit another culture is gradually becoming more of an outdated concept. But in the past, American TV producers have repeatedly tried and failed to remake many beloved British sitcoms with terrible consequences.

Jazzy Janey, The Comedy Blog, 2nd September 2023

The reality of remaking UK sitcoms

The CBS version of the BBC comedy Ghosts is one of the biggest shows on American TV. But US remakes more often than not go south. Armando Iannucci and other creators share their horror stories.

Daniel Dylan Wray, The Guardian, 13th May 2023

The 25 funniest Christmas comedy TV specials of all time

The comedy special is as much a part of British Christmas as a family row and mountains of sprouts. This year, comedy shows from Motherland and The Detectorists to Mrs Brown's Boys and Ghosts are returning with festive specials to round off 2022. To celebrate, we countdown the greatest 25 Christmas comedy specials of all time.

Tom Fordy, The Telegraph, 23rd December 2022

Absolutely Fabulous is still untouchable 30 years later

The series may now be considered a classic, but it feels more savage than ever: so cruel, and so correct, that it could never be made today.

David Odyssey, Gawker, 5th December 2022

Del Boy falling through bar voted funniest sitcom scene

A poll run by TV channel Gold has named moments from Only Fools And Horses, The Vicar Of Dibley, Dad's Army and Fawlty Towers as the funniest British sitcom scenes.

British Comedy Guide, 1st November 2022

100 BBC TV gamechangers

The Sooty Show, Goodness Gracious Me and Hancock's Half Hour have been named amongst 23 comedy titles in a BFI list of the 100 most important television programmes from the BBC, as the broadcaster marks its 100th anniversary.

British Film Institute, 28th April 2022

Joanna Lumley says Princess Margaret was the 'prototype' for Ab Fab

'There was something so fabulous about her,' Lumley said of the late royal.

The Independent, 25th November 2021

Joanna Lumley: I love Patsy, we're such polar opposites

The actor, 74, on Ab Fab, recycling, President Clinton and why you can't be happy all the time.

Rich Pelley, The Guardian, 24th April 2021

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