Absolutely Fabulous

Image: Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley in Episode 1 'Fashion' in 1992.

The first episode of Jennifer Saunders’ sitcom, Absolutely Fabulous, aired on 12 November 1992. Saunders was Edina Monsoon, the self-absorbed mother of straight-laced Saffron, played by Julia Sawalha. The immediate success of the comedy was aided by the inspired casting of the ensemble. Joanna Lumley – not previously known for playing comedy – became Edina’s best friend and partner in debauchery, Patsy Stone. Sitcom royalty June Whitfield played Edina’s mother and Jane Horrocks was her assistant, Bubble. The show quickly became known as Ab Fab and the misbehaving women Edina and Patsy became comic icons.

The idea for Ab Fab originated in a French and Saunders sketch about a needy modern mother desperate to show her more sensible daughter how cool she was, in which French played Saffy. The series opened out into the world of fashion and PR, taking aim at the rising celebrity culture along the way. Helen Lederer and Kathy Burke stood out, playing fashionistas Catriona and Magda. There were no significant roles for men other than Edina’s ex-husbands, Justin and Marshall - Christopher Malcolm and Christopher Ryan.

Ab Fab ended after five series, but its continued popularity gave rise to several specials and, in 2016, a film. The part played by Absolutely Fabulous in boosting the profile of women in comedy is hard to over-estimate. The careers of the participants, particularly Lumley’s, benefited from their involvement. Saunders went on to create another sitcom starring a largely female cast - Jam and Jerusalem.