Absolutely Fabulous

Top Cast

Jennifer Saunders as Edina Monsoon
Joanna Lumley as Patsy Stone
Julia Sawalha as Saffron 'Saffy' Monsoon
June Whitfield as Mother
Jane Horrocks as Bubble
Naoko Mori as Sarah
Harriet Thorpe as Fleur
Helen Lederer as Catriona
Christopher Malcolm as Justin
Christopher Ryan as Marshall

Seasons

Specials (1996) - (38 Episodes)

Series 1 (1992) - (6 Episodes)

Series 2 (1994) - (6 Episodes)

Series 3 (1995) - (6 Episodes)

Series 4 (2001) - (6 Episodes)

Series 5 (2003) - (7 Episodes)

20th Anniversary Specials (2011) - (3 Episodes)

Specials (1996)

Prior to the third series, a dramatized behind-the-scenes special was broadcast on 6 January 1995. The special was titled 'How to Be Absolutely Fabulous' and featured Jennifer Saunders as she enters the BBC studio in which the woman at reception is unaware of who Saunders is. Unable to convince the receptionist that she is in fact Edina for the series, Saunders, along with the camera crew runs up to the Absolutely Fabulous office, despite being refused access from the receptionist. Once in the office, Saunders talks about the origins of the series. The special features clips from the series. A second special, released in 1998 and titled 'Absolutely Fabulous: A Life' features Edina and her mother as she and a camera crew are filming the story of Edina's life in a documentary. The setting for the documentary is in the charity shop in which her mother works. Edina talks about her surroundings in the charity shop.

Episodes:

Ep. 1: The Last Shout: Part One (1996-11-06)

Saffy becomes engaged to her snooty new boyfriend, Paolo Carlo. Edina and Patsy go on a ski trip where the former has a near-death experience. Bo arrives, hiding from the Scientologists. And Mother goes to the airport to meet two old friends she hasn't seen in years.
Ep. 2: The Last Shout: Part Two (1996-11-07)

Paolo's parents arrive, disapproving of Saffy... until Patsy realises that she knows Paulo's mother. Edina and Saffy plan the wedding and see it through — only to have it ruined at the last moment by Divine Intervention.
Ep. 3: Absolutely Fabulous: A Life (1998-10-28)

Moments From The Life of a Woman of Her Time. During the filming of her very own documentary, 'A Day in My Life', Eddie drops in on her mother who's working in a Help the Aged charity shop. There, she reminisces about the people and events which have made her what she is today.
Ep. 4: Mirrorball (2000-12-22)

This is the pilot for what was intended to be a new sitcom called Mirrorball. Although written by Saunders, featuring all of the main AbFab cast members, as well as some of the supporting cast, the plot and characters in Mirrorball are different, despite many personality similarities to the AbFab characters. After this was filmed, Saunders was inspired to revive Absolutely Fabulous in 2001, and the Mirrorball series was never produced. The show centers around aging stage actresses Vivienne Krell (Saunders) and Jackie Riviera (Lumley), who live in vertically adjacent flats. The two are of questionable talent, and their careers seem to be at a standstill. During the course of the pilot, Vivienne has the opportunity to be cast in a new show but delivers a horrifying rendition of the standard 'Send in the Clowns', thanks in part to Jackie's off-kilter advice (Jackie shouts at her from off-stage to "Sparkle! SPARKLE!").
Ep. 5: Gay (2002-12-27)

Patsy's off to New York's fashion week and drags Edina along for company. It doesn't take much persuasion, especially after Mother lets it slip that Serge is living there. The pair get into all sorts of mischief in New York, including a gay wedding, celebrity appearances, and fashion faux pas. Back home, Marshall and Bo run a crooked Evangelical network, Saffy studies people whilst in a cupboard, and Bubble desperately tries to be useful.
Ep. 6: Cold Turkey (2003-12-24)

Edina spends her first Christmas at home, much to Saffy's chagrin, and goes all out for the festivities. John's preoccupied with Justin's sex life. Marshall and Bo arrive with their details of the infomercial they've been doing 'since the bottom fell out of the baby business'. Patsy, who detests Christmas, is happy when she collapses and gets to spend a few days on drugs in hospital... though it seems that her condition may be more dire than anyone realises.
Ep. 7: White Box (2004-12-25)

Edina tries to bring her vision for a new kitchen to life. The trouble is, she's awfully fuzzy on the specifics on how the room should look. Her decorating woes are are compounded by the fact that her designer is emotionally unstable and Saffy completely disapproves of the remodel.
Ep. 9: Outtakes (Series 4)

Outtakes from Series 4.
Ep. 10: Outtakes (Gay)

Outtakes from the special 'Gay'.
Ep. 11: The Story of Absolutely Fabulous (2004-01-02)

A definitive account of one of British comedy's most successful sitcoms. The programme answers burning questions such as: was Patsy once a man? Why was Joanna Lumley nearly put off taking the role of Patsy? Who was originally going to play Saffy? And what do Marisa Berensen, Jennifer Saunders and Lynne Franks all have in common? From how it came into being to how it manages to stay at the top of its game, this entertaining and engaging documentary follows the antics of the Ab Fab crew, namely Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, Julia Sawalha and June Whitfield. It also sheds light on some of comedy's most far-out characters. Featuring behind-the-scenes footage and drunken outtakes, The Story of Absolutely Fabulous is everything you need to know... and a little bit more.
Ep. 12: Outtakes (Series 1) - "ABSOLUTELY NOT"

Outtakes from series 1.
Ep. 13: Outtakes (Series 2)

Outtakes from series 2.
Ep. 14: Outtakes (Series 3) - "Absolutely Not"

Outtakes from series 3.
Ep. 15: Absolutely Fabulous (Pet Shop Boys Video) (1994-02-07)

Hilarious music video by the Pet Shop Boys featuring some of the most funny and memorable outtakes from Absolutely Fabulous.
Ep. 16: How to Be Absolutely Fabulous (1995-01-06)

Special taking a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the first two series. Includes interviews with the cast and producers, telephone messages from Bette Midler, and Elizabeth Taylor and Neil Tennant conducting business with Roseanne regarding the botched American reboot.
Ep. 17: Outtakes (The Last Shout)

Outtakes from the special 'The Last Shout'.
Ep. 18: Gorgeous Little Things

No overview for this episode.
Ep. 19: Modern Mother and Daughter

The original French & Saunders sketch which inspired Absolutely Fabulous.
Ep. 20: Joanna Lumley Talks about Modeling

No overview for this episode.
Ep. 21: PR Office (French & Saunders)

No overview for this episode.
Ep. 22: Outtakes (Series 5)

Outtakes from Ab Fab Series 5.
Ep. 25: Comic Relief (2005-03-11)

No overview for this episode.
Ep. 28: Sport Relief (2012-03-23)

The girls show their support for Sport Relief.
Ep. 29: Olympics (2012-07-23)

Edina forgets that the Olympics are on, until it gets her closer to her idol.
Ep. 31: Joanna Lumley Interview Morning Show

No overview for this episode.
Ep. 32: Letterman comes to London - Ab Fab interview

No overview for this episode.
Ep. 33: Satan, Darling (1996-10-29)

Absolutely Fabulous glam gals Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley (in character as Edina and Patsy) are among the few down-to-earth participants in Roseanne's outrageous Halloween outing. They're guests at an Upper West Side soirée, where new multimillionaires Roseanne and Jackie have gained entrée into New York society. But for grandmother-to-be Roseanne, a witches' coven soon comes into play — a la Rosemary's Baby — and bizarre happenings begin to involve a very pregnant Darlene.
Ep. 34: Interview Behind the Scenes - Jennifer and Joanna

No overview for this episode.
Ep. 35: Interview Behind the Scenes - June Whitfield

No overview for this episode.
Ep. 41: Interview Behind the Scenes - Producer Jon Plowman

No overview for this episode.
Ep. 46: Episode 46 (2003-11-30)

No overview for this episode.
Ep. 47: Behind the Scenes - Sport Relief 2012

No overview for this episode.
Ep. 48: Jennifer Saunders & Cher on the Graham Norton Show

No overview for this episode.
Ep. 49: Jennifer Saunders & Joanna Lumley Look Back

No overview for this episode.
Ep. 50: Jennifer Saunders in Conversation with Clare Balding

No overview for this episode.
Ep. 51: Absolutely Fabulous - TV Bloopers (Series 1-5 and Gay) (2013-03-04)

Lots of bloopers
Ep. 53: Joanna and Jennifer: Absolutely Champers (2017-12-21)

In a special Christmas treat for BBC Two, Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders reunite for a trip to the Champagne region of France to find out exactly how to put the bubbles into bubbly, from the annual harvest to the miles of underground cellars, while sharing stories of filming Ab Fab and reminiscing about their friendship.
Ep. 54: Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out (2024-10-17)

Celebrate one of Britain’s most-loved comic creations as Jennifer Saunders, Dame Joanna Lumley, Julia Sawalha and Jane Horrocks reunite to share anecdotes and backstage secrets.