"Absolutely Fabulous" (1992) TV series 1992-2012

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | unknown

Release Date:

24 July 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Sin is in, sweetie.

Plot:

Edina Monsoon and her best friend Patsy drive Eddie's sensible daughter, Saffron, up the wall with their...

Plot Keywords:

Best Friend | Retreat | New Year's Eve | Vodka | Dream

Awards:

8 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

Jennifer Saunders	...	Edina / ... (40 episodes, 1992-2012)
Joanna Lumley	...	Patsy (40 episodes, 1992-2012)
Julia Sawalha	...	Saffron (40 episodes, 1992-2012)
June Whitfield	...	Mother (37 episodes, 1992-2012)
Jane Horrocks	...	Bubble / ... (33 episodes, 1992-2012)

Series Directed by
Bob Spiers		(23 episodes, 1992-2001)
Dewi Humphreys		(8 episodes, 2003)
Christine Gernon		(3 episodes, 2001)
Mandie Fletcher		(3 episodes, 2011-2012)

Series Writing credits
Jennifer Saunders		(40 episodes, 1992-2012)
Dawn French		(38 episodes, 1992-2012)
Sue Perkins		(8 episodes, 2003)

Series Produced by
Jon Plowman	....	producer / executive producer (39 episodes, 1992-2012)
Tammy Chopling	....	executive producer (13 episodes, 2003-2012)
Jo Sargent	....	producer (10 episodes, 2002-2004)
Janice Thomas	....	assistant producer / producer (8 episodes, 1995-1996)
Jonathan Paul Llewellyn	....	producer (6 episodes, 2001)
Maria Cooper	....	line producer (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Justin Davies	....	producer (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Phil McIntyre	....	executive producer: Saunders & French productions (2 episodes, 1996)
Maureen Vincent	....	executive producer: Saunders & French productions (2 episodes, 1996)

Series Original Music by
Simon Brint		(36 episodes, 1992-2004)
Ben Lee-Delisle		(4 episodes, 2003)
Simon Wallace		(2 episodes, 1996)
Ian Masterson		(2 episodes, 2011-2012)

Series Cinematography by
Keith Goddard		(6 episodes, 2001)
Peter Edwards		(4 episodes, 2003)
Andy Hollis		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Chris Wadsworth		(35 episodes, 1992-2003)
Barry Osment		(5 episodes, 2003)
Jake Bernard		(3 episodes, 2011-2012)

Series Production Design by
Harry Banks		(27 episodes, 1995-2012)
Bryan Ellis		(12 episodes, 1992-1994)

Series Art Direction by
Joanna King		(10 episodes, 2001-2012)
Jane Shepherd		(8 episodes, 2003)

Series Costume Design by
Sarah Burns		(23 episodes, 1992-2012)
Rebecca Hale		(16 episodes, 2001-2004)
Mo Reitherman		(6 episodes, 2001)
Cressida Lewis		(3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Philip Lester		(2 episodes, 1992)
Jane Langdale		(2 episodes, 1994-1995)
Zoe Stevenson		(2 episodes, 2003)

Series Makeup Department
Jan Sewell	....	makeup designer / hair designer (32 episodes, 1992-2003)
Christine Cant	....	makeup designer / hair designer (4 episodes, 2004-2012)
Nicola Coleman	....	makeup artist (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Nina Pratley	....	makeup artist / hair stylist (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Kate Benton	....	makeup designer / makeup designer: Morocco (2 episodes, 1994)
Catherine Wilkins	....	makeup designer (2 episodes, 1996)

Series Production Management
Francis Gilson	....	production manager (14 episodes, 2001-2003)
Gareth Carrivick	....	production manager (8 episodes, 1995-1996)
Janice Thomas	....	production manager (6 episodes, 1994)
John Adams	....	production manager (5 episodes, 1992)
John Gorringe	....	production manager (5 episodes, 1992)
Mark Ellis	....	unit manager (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
John Penotti	....	production manager: New York (2 episodes, 1995)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Caroline Jeffries	....	first assistant director (6 episodes, 2001)
Andy Lumsden	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 2003)
Jo Harrison	....	second assistant director (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Sam Smith	....	third assistant director (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Andy Stenning	....	first assistant director (3 episodes, 2011-2012)

Series Art Department
Bob Warans	....	production buyer / properties buyer (36 episodes, 1992-2004)
Bernard Heyes	....	graphic designer (6 episodes, 1992)
Andy Carroll	....	graphic designer (6 episodes, 2001)
Laurie Heard	....	stand-by props (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Jack Humpheson	....	stand-by props (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Matt Hunter	....	storeman (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
David McCollin	....	property master (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Laura Richardson	....	production buyer (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Andrew Smee	....	graphic designer (2 episodes, 1992-1994)

Series Sound Department
Laurie Taylor	....	sound / sound supervisor (20 episodes, 1994-2001)
Nick Roast	....	sound supervisor / studio sound supervisor / ... (19 episodes, 1994-2012)
John Mooney	....	sound (15 episodes, 1992-2003)
Scott Talbott	....	sound (6 episodes, 1992)
John Taylor	....	sound recordist (6 episodes, 1994)
Bob Newton	....	location sound (6 episodes, 2001)
John A. Parry	....	sound recordist (5 episodes, 1992)
John Hooper	....	sound recordist / sound recordist: London (5 episodes, 1995)
Keith Silva	....	location sound (4 episodes, 2003)
Stuart Moser	....	sound recordist: New York / sound recordist (3 episodes, 1995)
Christopher Atkinson	....	boom operator (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Glenn Calder	....	dubbing mixer (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Leigh Crisp	....	location sound recordist (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Richard Merrick	....	sound: film (2 episodes, 1996)
Chris Shellard	....	deputy sound supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Steve Bowman	....	special effects (1 episode, 2012)

Series Visual Effects by
Andy McVean	....	visual effects designer (3 episodes, 1992-2002)
Steve Lucas	....	visual effects designer (2 episodes, 1994)
Steve Bland	....	visual effects (2 episodes, 1996)

Series Stunts
Manny Siverio	....	stunt coordinator (1 episode, 2002)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
John Vincent	....	camera supervisor / studio camera supervisor (37 episodes, 1992-2012)
Graham Rimmington	....	lighting technician / lighting director (15 episodes, 1995-2002)
Mike Manning	....	lighting technician (10 episodes, 1992-1994)
Christopher Clayton	....	lighting director (7 episodes, 2003)
John Record	....	location camera / location camera: London / ... (6 episodes, 1995-1996)
Peter Ditch	....	location camera (6 episodes, 2001)
Mike Radford	....	location camera / camera operator: film camera (5 episodes, 1992)
John Daly	....	location camera / location director of photography (4 episodes, 1994-2012)
Chris Kempton	....	studio lighting director / lighting director (4 episodes, 2004-2012)
Colin Waldeck	....	film camera (3 episodes, 1994)
Richard Quinlan	....	director of photography: USA / director of photography: New York (3 episodes, 1995-2002)
Jamie Cairney	....	location director of photography (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Mark Gibbon	....	gaffer (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
James Grimes	....	grip (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Darren Jackson	....	best boy (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Gary Rogers	....	focus puller (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Tom Vincent-Townend	....	camera assistant (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Duncan Brown	....	lighting technician (2 episodes, 1994)
Pete Evans	....	camera operator: studio camera / camera supervisor (2 episodes, 1996)
Chris Hartley	....	film camera (2 episodes, 1996)
Dan Brough	....	camera assistant (2 episodes, 2012)
Warwick Drucker	....	grip (2 episodes, 2012)
Andy Long	....	gaffer (2 episodes, 2012)

Series Animation Department
Laura Hulme	....	animation graphic designer (1 episode, 2012)

Series Casting Department
Liz England	....	casting advisor / original casting (20 episodes, 1992-1996)
Hayley Murt	....	casting advisor (2 episodes, 1996)
Matthew Messinger	....	casting / casting: New York (2 episodes, 2002-2012)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Natalie Rogers	....	costume supervisor (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Jane Langdale	....	costume assistant (2 episodes, 1996)
Jason Airey	....	costume trainee (2 episodes, 2011-2012)

Series Editorial Department
Hilary Briegel	....	vision mixer (21 episodes, 1992-2012)
Barbara Hicks	....	vision mixer (9 episodes, 2003-2004)
Kathryn Randall	....	vision mixer (7 episodes, 1992-2001)
Vicki Matich	....	colorist (3 episodes, 2011-2012)

Series Music Department
Marianne Faithfull	....	performer: "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" (1 episode, 2001)
Shel Silverstein	....	songwriter: "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" (1 episode, 2001)

Series Other crew
Ruby Wax	....	script editor (39 episodes, 1992-2012)
Betty Jackson	....	title designer (21 episodes, 1994-2002)
Claire Bridgland	....	production executive (15 episodes, 2001-2003)
Caroline Caley	....	stage manager (15 episodes, 2001-2003)
Jackie Byrne	....	production accountant (14 episodes, 2001-2003)
Gareth Carrivick	....	assistant floor manager (12 episodes, 1992-1994)
Vivien Ackland-Snow	....	floor manager (12 episodes, 2002-2012)
John Latus	....	resource coordinator (11 episodes, 1992-1994)
Bernadette Darnell	....	script supervisor (11 episodes, 2003-2012)
Andrew Garnett	....	studio resources manager (9 episodes, 2002-2003)
Natalie Bailey	....	production team (8 episodes, 2003)
Rebecca Kerley	....	production team (8 episodes, 2003)
Tina Brough	....	production assistant (6 episodes, 1994)
Alan Bright	....	resources manager (6 episodes, 1995-1996)
Rebecca Martin	....	production assistant (6 episodes, 1995)
Jemma Rodgers	....	assistant floor manager (6 episodes, 1995)
Caroline Summers	....	production secretary (6 episodes, 1995)
Claudia Cuffy	....	production secretary (6 episodes, 2001)
Ellie Gleave	....	script supervisor (6 episodes, 2001)
Kevin King	....	studio resource manager (6 episodes, 2001)
Jonathan Wicks	....	location manager / location manager: UK (6 episodes, 2001)
Kirsty Barr	....	production secretary (5 episodes, 1992)
Susie Bryant	....	production assistant (5 episodes, 1992)
Mike Morgan	....	floor manager (5 episodes, 2001)
Katie Collins	....	production secretary / script supervisor (4 episodes, 1994-2002)
David Lardner	....	location manager (4 episodes, 2003)
Vikki Dale	....	floor runner (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Sarah Daman	....	stage manager (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Eirwen Davies	....	production executive (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Josie Kelly	....	production accountant (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Jamie Lindsay	....	location manager (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Laura Park	....	production coordinator (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Steve Whitehead	....	studio resources manager (3 episodes, 2011-2012)
Ashley Lovell	....	production secretary (2 episodes, 1994)
Patrick Steel	....	resource manager / resources manager (2 episodes, 1995)
Stephen Abrahams	....	location manager (2 episodes, 1996)
Wendy Gray	....	production secretary (2 episodes, 1996)
Henrietta Hope	....	assistant floor manager (2 episodes, 1996)
Jessica Powell	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1996)
Abigail Smart	....	assistant floor manager / production team (2 episodes, 2003-2004)
Ben Michael	....	floor runner (2 episodes, 2011-2012)

Series Thanks
Barry Weissler	....	thanks (1 episode, 2003)
Fran Weissler	....	thanks (1 episode, 2003)

Production Companies

• French & Saunders Productions
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (as BBC) (for)
• Comedy Central (in association with) (2001)
• Oxygen Media (in association with) (2003)

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (1992-2004) (UK) (TV) (BBC1) (original airing)
• Comedy Central (1994-1999) (USA) (TV)
• Polyband (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• UKTV Gold (199?) (UK) (TV) (repeats)
• Vrijzinnig Protestantse Radio Omroep (VPRO) (199?) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD) (complete series)

Other Companies

• Access Bookings  accommodation
• Jump  title design

Also Known As:

Runtime:

30 min (24 episodes) | 45 min (2 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Australia:PG (some episodes) | Singapore:NC-16 (season 5) | Singapore:PG | USA:TV-14 | Argentina:13 | New Zealand:M (seasons 1-4) | Greece:K-13

Filming Locations:

Holland Park, London, England, UK

Company:

French & Saunders Productions

Trivia:

The series started out as a single sketch on "French and Saunders" (1987), entitled "The Modern Mother and Daughter".

Quotes:

Bubble:Don't ask me. I for sure *don't* know.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Top Gear: Episode #5.3" (2004)

Soundtrack:

This Wheel's On Fire

They're back, sweetie, and louder than ever!

In the current climate of social restriction and political correctness, there is something very liberating about watching people do all the things society tells us are bad without one iota of regret. This is made even more powerful by making the characters a pair of middle-aged, upper-crust women who "should know better."

Who says Brits are stuffy? In the outrageous world of jet-setters Edina Monsoon (Jennifer Saunders--is there anything she CAN'T do?) and Patsy Stone (Joanna Lumley), moderation is but a myth, darling! These two babes are BENEATH the Valley of the Dolls--piles of pills, mountains of coke, gallons of Bolly-Stoli cocktails...and whatever else is fashionable at the present time. They slavishly follow trends, kiss the butts of celebrities, torment Eddy's straight-laced daughter Saffron (Julia Sawalha), and basically do whatever must be done to get exactly what they want, when they want it. There are no lessons, no judgments, no treacly sentimental bits to tug at one's heartstrings. Thank bloody God!

AbFab is the perfect alternative for those repulsed by the sugary sewage typically pumped through the picture tube, where everyone does "the right thing" ("Don't do that in front of me or I'll throw up!"). Sharp in all departments, with a terrific cast, hilarious (and surprisingly true) writing, and a gorgeously gaudy wardrobe for Eddy ("Lacroix, sweetie!"). And best of all, after a five-year absence, THEY ARE BACK! These lovable lushes have NOT had their Last Shout--and don't you dare think they've mellowed! Joyously self-absorbed chaos is still the name of the game, and nobody plays it better than Eddy and Patsy.

"All right, cheers, thanks a lot."