Absolutely Fabulous premiered in 1992 as a British sitcom about a pair of hedonists who refuse to grow up. Jennifer Saunders plays Edina Monsoon, a PR executive who drinks, takes drugs and chases fads while trying to stay young. Joanna Lumley plays Patsy Stone, a former fashion model who matches Edina’s excesses. Together they drive Edina’s daughter Saffron, played by Julia Sawalha, up the wall.
The show ran six seasons, spanning 34 episodes, with its first episode airing November 12, 1992 on BBC One and BBC Two. It ended July 23, 2012 after a final two-part special. June Whitfield plays Edina’s mother, and Jane Horrocks plays Bubble, Edina’s assistant.
Trailer, via BritBox.
Edina and Patsy
Edina runs a failing PR firm in London’s Holland Park. She drinks heavily and takes drugs to stay hip. Patsy is her best friend, a former model who holds a sinecure at a top magazine. Patsy is the driving force of the duo, both enabling and co-dependent on Edina. Their lifestyle causes constant crises, which Saffron resolves again and again.
Patsy’s drug abuse, alcohol consumption and desperate promiscuity far outpace Edina’s. The show leans on cruel humour and in-jokes, and the combination made it a cult hit in the UK and abroad.
Saffron and Bubble
Saffron is a student and aspiring writer. Her constant care of her immature mother has left her bitter and cynical. She handles her mother’s affairs, usually badly, through Bubble, Edina’s assistant. Bubble is incompetent, immature and neurotic, and her antics often complicate Edina’s business and personal life.
Edina’s mother visits the home frequently to keep Saffron company and help with chores. She also takes Edina’s possessions to sell at car boot sales. The mother and daughter disagree on nearly everything and rarely spend time alone together.
“The first three series of Absolutely Fabulous were broadcast on the BBC from 1992 to 1995, followed by a series finale in the form of a two-part special entitled The Last Shout, in 1996.”
Legacy
In 2000, the show was ranked number 17 on the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes by the British Film Institute. It was revived for two more series and two one-hour specials from 2001 to 2004. Three new episodes, titled Absolutely Fabulous: 20th Anniversary, were released in 2011–2012.
Verdict
Absolutely Fabulous is a sharp, cruel comedy that rewards repeat viewing. Its jokes land harder the second time around. Saunders and Lumley play a friendship that is toxic, indulgent and utterly committed to each other. The show’s refusal to soften Edina or Patsy earns it points over similar shows that ease off their worst impulses.
The supporting cast, led by Whitfield and Horrocks, give the show a depth that most comedies don’t bother with. June Whitfield’s mother is a marvel of deadpan wit and thievery.
The show’s run from 1992 to 2012 covers decades of British culture, from the early days of the internet to the 2010s. It remains a benchmark for sharp, cruel comedy.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.
