26 Things You Didn’t Know About Absolutely Fabulous

absolutely fabulous the movie

by Katie Rosseinsky |
Published on

Which Hollywood star plays a 'dream' version of Edina's daughter? What is the iconic Ab Fab kitchen being used for now? And whatever happened to the planned American remake? As Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie hits cinemas, there's no better time to grab a glass (or a magnum) of Bolly and brush up on your Ab Fab trivia...

1. The name Eddie Monsoon is a play on the last name of Jennifer Saunders' husband, Adrian Edmondson

Edmondson first used the name in an episode of cult Channel 4 show 'Comic Strip Presents.'

2. Edmondson also has a recurring cameo role in the series as Hamish

He's the restaurant critic at the magazine Patsy 'works' at.

3. Edmondson also sings the show's theme tune 'This Wheel's On Fire' with Julie Driscoll

It's a cover version of a Bob Dylan track.

4. Jennifer Saunders is only ten years older than her on-screen daughter, Julia Sawalha

Saunders was born in 1958, Sawalha in 1968.

5. Saunders and her on-screen mother June Whitfield appeared in an episode of Friends together

They pop up in 'The One With Ross' Wedding,' with Saunders playing Elizabeth's step-mother Andrea Waltham, and Whitfield playing her housekeeper. London, baby!

6. During New York Pride in 2002, Saunders and Lumley judged an Ab Fab lookalike competition at a gay bar

This year, they opened London's Pride celebrations.

7. There have been two attempts to make a US version of the show

Sadly, neither were picked up by a US TV network...

8. The first would have starred Carrie Fisher and Barbara Carrera...

Yes, Princess Leia as Eddie. Just let that sink in.

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9. In the second, Kathryn Hahn would have played Eddie and Kristen Johnston would have played Patsy

Bonus fact - Zosia Mamet (aka Shoshanna from Girls) was set to play Saffy.

10. Jane Horrocks (aka Bubble) originally auditioned to play Saffy

Impressed by her performance, Saunders expanded the role of Bubble for her instead.

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11. All five of the show's main stars have names beginning with the letter J

That's Jennifer, Joanna, Julia, June and June, which is sure to make things confusing on set...

12. The role of Patsy's sister Jackie was written with iconic actress Charlotte Rampling in mind

However, she declined and Dynasty star Kate O'Mara took the role instead.

13. Patsy's full name is Eurydice Colette Clytemnestra Dido Bathsheba Rabelais Patricia Cocteau Stone

It's revealed in a flashback episode featuring Patsy's mother, who is obsessed with allusions to classical myth.

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14. Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley played their characters in an episode of American show Roseanne

Roseanne star Laurie Metcalf returned the favour by later appearing in 'Ab Fab.'

15. Whenever someone asks if Eddie's house is in Shepherd's Bush, she always has the same response...

Which is to yell 'Holland Park! Holland Park!' (The two London neighbourhoods can be found alongside each other, but the appearance-conscious Eddie would much rather be perceived as a Holland Park dweller.

16. Idris Elba's first on-screen speaking role is in the Season Three episode 'Sex'

Patsy compares his character to Sean Connery.

17. Lynne Franks is suppposedly the inspiration for Eddie

In an interview, Franks said 'Jennifer has said it's not me, and I accept it's a composite character. But I assume she took certain aspects. After all, how many Buddhist PRs are there with two children and a secretary and office like that?'

18. The BBC were worried that no one outside London would get the joke

Jon Plowman, Head of Comedy at the BBC, revealed there was concern that 'an audience outside the square mile of Soho would not know what this was about.'

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19. The show was inspired by a French and Saunders sketch called 'Modern Mother and Daughter'

Saunders played an over-the-top, Edina-like character, while Dawn French played the sensible daughter...

20. So, Dawn French almost played Saffy

However, the pair thought it would be more realistic to cast a younger actress to play Saunders' daughter.

21. The set for Eddie's kitchen is now used in BBC comedy 'Miranda'

Miranda Hart also appeared in a 2004 episode of 'Ab Fab,' titled 'White Box.'

22. 'Absolument Fabuleux,' a French film based on the show, was released in 2001

It starred French actresses Josiane Balas and Nathalie Baye as Eddie and Patsy...

23. The film featured a brief cameo from Jennifer Saunders

Sadly, this didn't stop it from being a total flop at the box office.

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24. Two Spice Girls have appeared in Ab Fab so far - Emma Bunton and Geri Halliwell

Saunders returned the favour by appearing in Spice World and writing the not-so successful Spice Girls musical, Viva Forever.

25. The script of Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie was the result of a £100,000 bet with Dawn French

French wanted to make sure her 'massive procrastinator' friend actually got round to finishing the project.

26. Helena Bonham Carter has a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo role

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In a dream sequence, she appears as a perfect version of Eddie's daughter, Saffy.

READ MORE: 25 Of The Most Quotable Moments From 'Absolutely Fabulous'

READ MORE: Ab Fab Premiere: The Most Fabulous Looks From The Red Carpet

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