New Absolutely Fabulous episodes are coming

As reported earlier: Patsy Stone and Edina Monsoon, the foul-mouthed, fashionably wasted ladies portrayed by Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders in the comedy series Absolutely Fabulous, will return to television in a series of anniversary specials, the BBC said today.

Created by Ms. Saunders, the original Absolutely Fabulous – Abfab to its friends – chronicled a public-relations executive (Edina) and a magazine editor (Patsy) whose efforts to remain hip and find sex in the city would leave Carrie Bradshaw utterly appalled. Over five seasons and various specials that were shown in Britain between 1992 and 2004 (and on American television on Comedy Central and Logo), the ladies drank and drugged their way through London and experienced the occasional adverse reaction to eating solid food.

Ms. Saunders told the BBC that production had begun on three new specials that would reunite the Patsy and Edina characters with Edina’s daughter, Saffy (played by Julia Sawalha) and her assistant, Bubble (Jane Horrocks), during “life-changing experience for one – which affects them all.”

“Like a good bottle of Champagne,” Ms. Saunders said in a statement, “we hope that we have got better with time without losing any of our sparkle. Last week when we started filming in dear old west London, it was as if nothing had changed. It was raining. Nevertheless, we are so happy to be working for an audience that has grown just a tiny bit older like us but is still willing to let us fall over on TV in the name of P.R.”

The new Absolutely Fabulous specials will be co-produced by BBC America and Logo and shown on both channels, though broadcast dates were not immediately announced.

(Via ArtsBeat)