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With its frank depictions of drug and alcohol use, irresponsible, irreverent and frequently illegal behaviour, the series gained a large and loyal following as well attracting censure from verious groups.
The characters played by Lumley (Patsy) and Saunders (Eddy) became popular subjects for emulation by female impersonators and halloween revellers.
The premise
Edina Monsoon (Saunders) and Patsy Stone (Lumley) are two out-of-place stuck-in-the-1970s substance-abusing ex-hippie Londoners who value style over substance. Saffron, Edina's daughter by a previous marriage, provides the voice of Monsoon and Stone's superego. Patsy was briefly a man after having an unsuccessful sex-change operation in Morocco.
rough notes
Written by: Jennifer Saunders
Directed by: Bob Spiers
Produced by: John Plowman
5 series, 34 episodes
Broadcast (in England): 1992-1996; 2001-2003
BBC Television
Paris (14 Sep 01)
Official website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/abfab/
Series 1 (12 Nov 92 - 17 Dec 92)
Fashion (12 Nov 92)
Guest stars:
Nickolas Grace (Jonny), Lucy Blair (Lou-Lou) Fat (19 Nov 92)
Guest stars:
Anthony Asbury (Georgy), Alexandra Bastedo (Penny Casper-Morse), Russell Kilmister (Surgeon).France (26 Nov 92)
Also appearing:
Geoff McGivern (Customs Officer), Juliette Mole (Air Hostess), Robert Ripa (Old Frenchman) Iso Tank (3 Dec 92)
Also appearing:
Tricia Aileen (School Secretary), Sidney Cole (Teacher), Lisa Coleman (Joanna), Annabel Hampson (Headmistress), Melanie Jessop (Secretary), James Lance (Daniel), Paul Mark Elliott (Teacher), Adrian Ross-Magenty (James), Tim Woodward (Tony) Magazine (10 Dec 92)
Also appearing:
Eleanor Bron (Patsy's Mother), Dawn French(Kathy)Birthday (17 Dec 92)
Also appearing:
Gary Beadle (Oliver), Mo Gaffney (Bo)Series 2 (27 Jan 94 - 10 Mar 94)
Hospital (27 Jan 94)
Also appearing:
Sylvia Anderson (Voice Of Lady Penelope), Helena Bonham-Carter ('Saffy'), Orla Brady (Nurse Mary), Llewella Gideon (Nurse), Richard E. Grant ('Justin'), Germaine Greer ('Mother'), David Henry (Mr Simpson), Jennifer Piercey (Antonia), Suzi Quatro ('Nurse'), Mandy Rice-Davies ('Patsy')Death (3 Feb 94)
Also appearing:
Llewella Gideon (Nurse), Gwen Humble (Sondra Lorrance), Ciaran McIntyre (Vicar), Mark Tandy (Mark), Natascha Taylor (Art Gallery Assistant) Morocco (10 Feb 94)
Also appearing:
Harroun Hanif (Yentob), Karim Skalli (Ali), John Wells (Uncle Humphrey) New Best Friend (24 Feb 94)
Also appearing:
Patrick Barlow (Max), Jo Brand (Carmen), Britt Eckland (Herself), Lulu (Herself), Zandra Rhodes (Herself), Miranda Richardson (Bettina), Meera Syal (Suzy)Poor (3 Mar 94)
Also appearing:
Miranda Forbes (Woman In Car), Helena McCarthy (Old Woman), Hugh Ross (Judge), Mark Wing-Davey (Malcolm) Birth (10 Mar 94)
Also appearing:
Suzy Aitchison (Nurse), Eleanor Bron (Patsy's Mother), Wolf Christian (Fireman), Philip Franks (Writer) Jane Galloway (Nurse), Mary Mackenzie (Dancer), Mia Soteriou (Guitar Player) Series 3 (30 Mar 95 - 4 May 95)
Door Handle (30 Mar 95)
Happy New Year (6 Apr 95)
Also appearing:
Gary Beadle (Oliver), Rebecca Front (Cherysh), Kate O'Mara (Jakie)Sex (13 Apr 95)
Also appearing:
James Dreyfus (Christopher), Idris Elba (Hilton), Ian Gelder (David), Andrew Loudon (Geoff), Ben Soames (Boy), Caroline Waldron (Caroline), Lee Walters (Boy) Jealous (20 Apr 95)
Also appearing:
Joanna Bowen (Journalist), Naomi Campbell (Herself), Celia Imrie (Claudia), Paul Reynolds (Squeak), Peter Richardson (Tony), Simon Stokes (Gerard) Fear (27 Apr 95)
Also appearing:
John Hudson (Lecturer), Caroline Waldron (Caroline), Lulu (Herself) The End (4 May 95)
Also appearing:
Kevin Allen (Ben), Suzanne Bertish (Gina), Max Brant (Mitchel Friedman), Sean Chapman (Santé), Daniella Denby-Ashe (Saffy's Daughter), Drew Eliot (Justice Of The Peace), Josie Laurence (Cable TV Presenter), Danny Newman (Saffy's Son), Rupert Penry-Jones (Boy At Party), Mossie Smith (Diane), Ruby Wax (Candy) Special
The Last Shout - Part 1 (6 Nov 96)
Also appearing:
Marcella Detroit (Angel), Marianne Faithfull (God), Tom Hollander (Paolo), Special
The Last Shout - Part 2 (7 Nov 96)
Also appearing:
Gary Beadle (Oliver), Christopher Biggins (Himself), Dora Bryan (Millie), Connor Burrows (Choirboy), Nickey Clarke (Himself), Marcella Detroit (Angel), Ed Devereaux (Mac), Carmen Du Sautoy (Kalishia), Marianne Faithfull (God), Georgina Grenville (Gucci Girl), Candida Gubbins (Shop Assistant), Tom Hollander (Paolo), Christian Lacroix (Himself), Calum Macleod (Vicar), Suzy Menkes (Herself), Bruce Oldfield (Himself), Alan Talbot (Carlo) Series 4 (31 Aug 01 - 5 Oct 01)
Parallox (31 Aug 01)
Also appearing:
Bob Barrett (Labour Party Man), Tilly Blackwood (Lady Candy), Twiggy (Herself), Lady Victoria Hervey (Herself), Michael Greco (Himself), Stephen Gately (Himself), Richard Madeley (Himself), Judy Finnigan (Herself) Fish Farm (7 Sep 01)
Also appearing:
Tim Wylton (Brice) Donkey (21 Sep 01)
Also appearing:
Till Blackwood (Lady Candy), Andrea Gillie (Patsy's PA), Jessica Wilcocks (Minge), Julian Rhind-Tutt (Taylor Johns), Marianne Faithfull (God), Anita Pallenberg (The Devil) Small Opening (28 Sep 01)
Also appearing:
Christopher Ryan (Marshall), Melanie Jessop (Policewoman), Tilly Blackwood (Lady Candy), Josh Neale (Actor), Miles Western (Actor), Emma Pierson (Actress), Lill Roughley (Actress) Menopause (5 Oct 01)
Also appearing:
Twiggy (Herself) Special
Gay (27 Dec 02)
Series 5 (17 Oct 03 - 5 Dec 03)
Cleanin' (17 Oct 03)
Guest stars:
Emma Bunton (Herself). Book Clubbin' (24 Oct 03)
Guest stars:
Mariella Frostrup (Herself), Jeanette Krankie (Midwife), Kristen Scott Thomas (Plum). Panickin' (31 Oct 03)
Guest stars:
Minnie Driver (Herself). Huntin' Shootin' Fishin' (7 Nov 03)
Guest stars:
Emma Bunton (herself), Clarissa Dixon Wright (Gamekeeper). Episode 5 (14 Nov 03)
Birthin' Episode 6 (28 Nov 03)
Schmoozin'
Guest stars:
Elton John, Robert Lindsay (Pete).Episode 7 (5 Dec 03)
Exploitin' Similar Shows
An attempted American remake was put into motion by Roseanne but never got off the ground. It was to star Carrie Fisher. However Roseanne did incorperate many elements of the show into her final season (where Roseanne wins the lottery), including hiring some of the guest stars of Absolutely Fabulous.