October 17th 2024.
Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley's Absolutely Fabulous creation is a timeless classic that has captured the hearts of audiences for decades. It's hard to imagine the show without these two iconic actresses, but it almost didn't happen due to early tensions between them. Thankfully, Joanna's agent convinced her to stick with it and the dynamic duo of Eddie and Patsy was born.
In a time when single women chaos was dominating TV screens, Absolutely Fabulous was a refreshing and groundbreaking feminist offering. Eddie and Patsy, played by Jennifer and Joanna, showed that women can be just as hilarious, awful, and lovable as men. They weren't your typical motherly figures, but they were gloriously feminine and endlessly entertaining.
The show was a new wave of feminism and comedy, but it almost didn't come to be. In an interview with producer Jon Plowman, the mastermind behind hits like The Office and The Vicar of Dibley, we learn about the inner workings of the show and the moment Joanna almost walked away.
Jon recalls the early days of the show when Jennifer would deliver scripts just in time for their weekly read-throughs. While this was nerve-wracking for the cast and crew, they had a mantra of "It will be alright by Wednesday." Despite this, Joanna found it difficult at first, thinking that Jennifer didn't like her and didn't want her in the show. But as they continued to work together, the chemistry between them became undeniable.
It was a rocky start, but by the third episode, they had found their groove and the rest is history. The show was a hit and even caught the attention of a BBC boss who initially had reservations about women being drunk on TV. But with the support of the audience, it became unstoppable. Jon even recalls a moment in the US when there was a "sense of Beatlesmania" surrounding Joanna and Jennifer, something he had never seen before.
Absolutely Fabulous was a trailblazer for feminism, but it never set out to be anything other than funny. As Jon points out, it's about good writing and good comedy, regardless of the gender of those involved. And with characters like Eddie and Patsy, the show had both character and surprise in abundance.
In today's climate, it's hard to say if a show like Absolutely Fabulous would have been given a chance. But as Jon says, you have to have faith and give it a go. And we're certainly glad they did, because it taught us that women can be messy, hilarious, and watchable. As Ben Elton famously said upon first seeing the show, "I've seen the future of comedy and this is it."
Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out, a documentary about the show, airs tonight on UKTV channel Gold at 9pm. It's a must-watch for any fan of the iconic duo and their fabulous antics.
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