JenniferSaunders

By the early 80s they were appearing at "The Comic Strip" in Soho, becoming part of the gang that would dominate alternative comedy throughout the decade.

After appearances in "The Young Ones" and "The Comic Strip Presents …", the pair conceived and starred in ITV's Girls on Top, a kind of female "Young Ones".

At the same time Saunders appeared solo, playing six different roles in BBC2's "Happy Families", alongside real-life husband Adrian Edmondson.

Two years later Jennifer and Dawn were back with "French and Saunders".

It was a sketch from that show that inspired the Eddy-Saffy, mother-and-daughter relationship at the heart of Saunders's multi-award-winning sitcom "Absolutely Fabulous".

Since AbFab she has written and starred in Jam and Jerusalem and the Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle.