Absolutely Fabulous review: Over the line with a bang

Perhaps it's a bit of a tenuous link for Absolutely Fabulous to have an Olympic games special-elite athletics and the world that Edina and Patsy inhabit don't seem particularly well paired-but nevertheless, all things considering, it works surprisingly well. If this does indeed turn out to be the final episode of Absolutely Fabulous, then thankfully it's a good one.

Absolutely Fabulous: A unholy mess

This unholy mess was all agonising enough anyway, but seriously suffers in comparison with another Olympic-themed BBC comedy, Twenty Twelve, which airs 24 hours later. That show is prescient, subtle and satirical. This one used a sledgehammer yet still kept missing its target.

The Olympics is almost here and Michael Douglas is coming to rent Edina's house for the duration. Stella McCartney may not be taking her calls but Edina's desperately hoping a film star consort will get her into some happening clubs. Patsy's stress incontinence threatens to ruin things and Bubble is dreaming about sporting glory. Good news: Saunders's writing is right back on form. Includes cameos from McCartney, Kelly Holmes and Tanni Grey-Thompson.

Just when you thought no more Olympics-themed programming could be squeezed into the schedules, the "sweedie darling" sitcom returns to give its own raucous spin on events. Edina Monsoon (Jennifer Saunders) feels past her sell-by date (rather like this show, cynics might suggest). Party invitations are no longer plopping onto her designer doormat and she can't even get into her favourite fashion stores anymore. Age has also caught up with best friend Patsy Stone (Joanna Lumley), the former glamour puss is reduced to wearing incontinence pads and cripplingly tight control underwear. For the duration of the Games, Eddy has rented out her house to a Hollywood A-lister and London 2012 is passing the pair by, until daughter Saffy (Julia Sawalha) returns home and exhorts them to embrace the Olympic spirit. Cue celebrity cameos from Dame Kelly Holmes, Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson and Stella McCartney, plus a sequence filmed inside the Olympic Stadium. This is the last of three 20th anniversary specials, the first two of which were shown over Christmas. It delivers the odd laugh but feels distinctly dated and should probably be laid to rest - at least until next year's mooted movie spin-off.

Ab Fab: Why this dated duo are out of the running

Ab Fab's Olympics special trails behind Twenty Twelve.

Julia Sawalha interview

Looking glam, sexy and far younger than her 43 years, Julia Sawalha is likeable and warm as she sits down to talk about the Absolutely Fabulous Olympics special...

Julia Sawalha interview

Saffy arrives back from her home in Africa to find Eddy and Patsy preparing (sort of...) for the 2012 Olympic Games... Julia Sawalha, who plays Saffy, tells TV Choice more.

Madonna's lifetime Ab Fab ban

Madonna will never be allowed to appear on Absolutely Fabulous even if she wanted to, according to the show's creator Jennifer Saunders.

Ab Fab film on the cards says Jennifer Saunders

Absolutely Fabulous star Jennifer Saunders says she hopes to start filming a big screen version of the show next year.

Kate Moss is Absolutely Fabulous in new role

Supermodel Kate Moss has proved she's as Absolutely Fabulous at acting as she is at being a clothes horse.