The fifth and final series of the British television sitcom ''

Absolutely Fabulous ''Absolutely Fabulous'' (also known as ''Ab Fab'') is a British television sitcom based on the ''French and Saunders'' sketch, "Modern Mother and Daughter", created by Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. The show was created and written by Saund ...

'' premiered on

BBC One BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's flagship network and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television bulletins, ...

on 17 October 2003 and concluded on 24 December 2003, consisting of eight episodes. A Christmas special, "White Box", followed the fifth series and was broadcast in 2004. Though no further series have followed, three specials were broadcast several years later to mark the show's 20th anniversary for 2012.

Cast and characters

Main

Jennifer Saunders Jennifer Jane Saunders (born 6 July 1958) is an English actress, comedian, singer and screenwriter. Saunders originally found attention in the 1980s, when she became a member of The Comic Strip after graduating from the Royal Central School of ...

as Edina Monsoon *

Joanna Lumley Dame Joanna Lamond Lumley (born 1 May 1946) is an English actress, presenter, former model, author, television producer, and activist. She has won two BAFTA TV Awards for her role as Patsy Stone in the BBC sitcom ''Absolutely Fabulous'' (1992 ...

Patsy Stone Patsy Stone is one of the two main characters from the British television sitcom ''Absolutely Fabulous'', portrayed by actress Joanna Lumley. Background Patsy was the last of a string of children born to an aging Bohemian mother in Paris, who g ...

Julia Sawalha Julia Sawalha (born 9 September 1968) is an English actress who played Saffron "Saffy" Monsoon in the BBC sitcom ''Absolutely Fabulous''. She is also known for her portrayal of Lynda Day, editor of the ''Junior Gazette'', in ''Press Gang'', as ...

as Saffron Monsoon *

Jane Horrocks Barbara Jane Horrocks (born 18 January 1964) is a British actress. She portrayed the roles of Bubble and Katy Grin in the BBC sitcom ''Absolutely Fabulous''. She was nominated for the 1993 Olivier Award for Best Actress for the title role in th ...

as Bubble / Katy Grin *

June Whitfield Dame June Rosemary Whitfield (11 November 1925 – 29 December 2018) was an English radio, television, and film actress. Her big break was a lead in the radio comedy '' Take It from Here'', which aired on the BBC Light Programme in 1953. ...

as Mother

Recurring

Helen Lederer Helen Margaret Lederer (born 24 September 1954) is an English comedian, writer and actress who emerged as part of the alternative comedy boom at the beginning of the 1980s. Among her television credits are the BBC2 sketch series ''Naked Video'' ...

as Catriona *

Harriet Thorpe Harriet Amelia Thorpe (born 8 June 1957) is an English actress. Thorpe trained at London's Central School of Speech and Drama. She is known for her roles in the British sitcoms, '' The Brittas Empire'' (1991–97) and '' Absolutely Fabulous'' ...

as Fleur *

Fern Britton Fern Britton (born 17 July 1957) is an English author and television presenter. She co-presented '' Breakfast Time'' in the 1980s, coming to mainstream national attention when hosting cookery game show ''Ready Steady Cook'' between 1994 and 200 ...

as herself *

Emma Bunton Emma Lee Bunton (born 21 January 1976) is an English singer, songwriter, actress, and media personality. She rose to fame in the 1990s as a member of the girl group Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed Baby Spice. With over 100 million recor ...

as herself *

Felix Dexter Felix Dexter (26 July 1961
Retrieved 22 October 2013

as John *

Naoko Mori (born 29 November 1971) is a Japanese actress based in the United Kingdom. She is known for her roles as Toshiko Sato in ''Doctor Who'' and ''Torchwood'', Yasuko Namba in ''Everest'', Sarah in ''Absolutely Fabulous'' and Nicola in '' Spice Wor ...

as Sarah *

Mo Gaffney Maureen E. Gaffney (born November 5, 1958, in San Diego, California) is an American actress and activist. Career Gaffney hosted two of her own television talk shows: ''Women Aloud!'' (which was shown on the Comedy Central network) and ''The Mo ...

as Bo *

Chris Ryan Colin Armstrong (born 1961), usually known by the pseudonym and pen-name of Chris Ryan, is an author, television presenter, security consultant and former Special Air Service sergeant. After the publication of fellow patrol member Andy McNa ...

as Marshall *

Christopher Malcolm Christopher Malcolm (19 August 1946 – 15 February 2014) was a Scottish actor and theatrical producer. He first achieved notoriety for his role as Brad Majors in the original stage production of ''The Rocky Horror Show''. Early life and edu ...

as Justin *

Simon Brodkin Simon Benjamin Brodkin (born 29 September 1977) is an English comedian, performing both on the stand-up circuit and in comedy television series. He is best known for playing a cheerful chav character called Lee Nelson, but also performs as othe ...

as doctor

Guest

Llewella Gideon Llewella Gideon (born 27 September 1967 in Peckham, South London) is a British actress, comedian and writer. She has appeared in a number of comedy series, including '' Absolutely Fabulous'', '' The Real McCoy'', '' The Crouches'', and ''The De ...

as tanning beautician * Janette Krankie as midwife * Kristin Scott Thomas as Plum *

Mariella Frostrup Mariella Frostrup (born 12 November 1962) is a British journalist and presenter, known in British television and radio mainly for arts programmes. Early life Frostrup was born in Oslo, Norway, to Peter and Joan Frostrup, but moved with her fam ...

as herself *

Minnie Driver Amelia Fiona Jessica "Minnie" Driver (born 31 January 1970) is an English actress. She rose to prominence with her break-out role in 1995's '' Circle of Friends''. She went on to star in a wide range of films including the cult classic '' Grosse ...

as herself *

Mossie Smith Mossie Smith is a British actress, best known for '' Goodnight, Mister Tom'' (1998), ''Prime Suspect'' (1995) and ''Second Best'' (1994). Filmography *'' Goodnight, Mister Tom'' (1998) *''Prime Suspect'' (1995) *''Second Best In welfare economic ...

as Flossie * Stephen Finegold as policeman * Emer O'Connor as policewoman *

Clarissa Dickson Wright Clarissa Theresa Philomena Aileen Mary Josephine Agnes Elsie Trilby Louise Esmerelda Dickson Wright (24 June 1947 – 15 March 2014) was an English celebrity cook, television personality, writer, businesswoman, and former barrister. She was bes ...

as herself * Sergio Priftis as ''Chicago'' dancer * Todd Talbot as ''Chicago'' dancer * Simon Breen as ''Chicago'' dancer * Zak Nemorin as ''Chicago'' dancer * Richard Roe as ''Chicago'' dancer * Robert Lindsay as Pete * Katie Blake as ''Booberella'' actor * Sam Spedding as ''Booberella'' actor * Elton John as himself * Charlotte Palmer as zoo keeper *

Perou perou by frances, right Ralph John Perou (born May 1970), known professionally as Perou and @mrperou on social media, is a Great British fashion, portrait and music photographer who has also appeared as a judge on '' Make Me a Supermodel UK'' ...

as photographer *

Jean Paul Gaultier Jean Paul Gaultier (; born 24 April 1952) is a French haute couture and prêt-à-porter fashion designer. He is described as an "enfant terrible" of the fashion industry and is known for his unconventional designs with motifs including corset ...

as himself *

Alex Lowe Stewart Alexander Lowe (24 December 1958 – 5 October 1999) was an American mountaineer. He has been described as inspiring "...a whole generation of climbers and explorers with his uncontainable enthusiasm, legendary training routines, and si ...

as wood cutter *

Eleanor Bron Eleanor Bron (born 14 March 1938) is an English stage, film and television actress, and an author. Her film roles include Ahme in the Beatles musical ''Help!'' (1965), the Doctor in '' Alfie'' (1966), Margaret Spencer in '' Bedazzled'' (1967), a ...

as Patsy's mother *

Kate O'Mara Kate O'Mara (born Francesca Meredith Carroll;Michael CoveneObituary: Kate O'Mara ''The Guardian'', 30 March 2014 10 August 1939 – 30 March 2014) was an English film, stage and television actress, and writer. O'Mara made her stage debut in a ...

as Jackie * Amy Phillips as paramedic * Marion Pashley as nurse

"White Box" guest cast

Nathan Lane Nathan Lane (born Joseph Lane; February 3, 1956) is an American actor. In a career spanning over 40 years he has been seen on stage and screen in roles both comedic and dramatic. Lane has received numerous awards including three Tony Awards, ...

as Kunz *

Laurie Metcalf Laura Elizabeth Metcalf (born June 16, 1955) is an American actress. Often described as a character actor, she's known for her complex and versitile roles across the stage and screen. She has received various accolades throughout her career sp ...

as Crystalline * Miranda Richardson as Bettina * Patrick Barlow as Max * Mo Gaffney as Bo * Christopher Ryan as Marshall *

Miranda Hart Miranda Katherine Hart Dyke (born 14 December 1972) is an English actress and writer. Following drama training at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts, Hart began writing material for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and making appearances in va ...

as Yoko *

Terence Conran Sir Terence Orby Conran (4 October 1931 – 12 September 2020) was an English designer, restaurateur, retailer and writer. He founded the Design Museum in Shad Thames, London in 1989 The British designer Thomas Heatherwick said that Conran ...

as himself

Episodes

Award and nominations

Series 5 Television and Radio Industries Club Awards —Won: TRIC Award for Best TV Comedy Programme White Box BAFTA Awards —Nominated: BAFTA Award for Best Make Up & Hair Design – Christine Cant

Home media

DVD (Region 1) * "Series 5" – 13 September 2005 * As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything" (9-disc set) – 27 May 2008 * As Part of the "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely All of It!" (10-disc set) - 5 November 2013 DVD (Region 2) * "Series 5" – 27 September 2004 * As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything" (10-disc set) – 15 November 2010 * As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything - The Definitive Edition" (11-disc set) – 17 March 2014 DVD (Region 4) * "Series 5" – 8 April 2004 * As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything" (9-disc set) – 20 April 2006 * As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Complete Collection" (10-disc set) – 5 April 2011 * As Part of the "Absolutely Everything: Definitive Edition" (11-disc set) – 30 April 2014 'White Box special * United States ** "White Box" – 16 October 2007 ** As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything" (9-disc set) – 27 May 2008 ** As Part of the "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely All of It!" (10-disc set) - 5 November 2013 * United Kingdom ** As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything" (10-disc set) – 15 November 2010 ** As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything - The Definitive Edition" (11-disc set) – 17 March 2014 Note: "White Box" has never been released in the UK as an individual DVD, but was first released as part of the "Absolutely Everything" collection in 2010 * Australia ** "White Box" – 2 November 2005 ** As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything" (9-disc set) – 20 April 2006 ** As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Complete Collection" (10-disc set) – 5 April 2011 ** As Part of the "Absolutely Everything: Definitive Edition" (11-disc set) – 30 April 2014

Other media

A behind-the-scenes special documentary, "The Story Of Absolutely Fabulous", was broadcast on 2 January 2004. The special gives a definitive account of the history of the series. A

Comic Relief Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character, scene, or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension. Definition Comic relief usually means a releasing of emotional or other tension resulting from a comic epis ...

special sketch of ''Absolutely Fabulous'' was broadcast on 11 March 2005. The story follows Edina and Patsy as they reluctantly accompany

to the taping of Comic Relief at the

BBC Television Centre Television Centre (TVC) is a building complex in White City, West London, that was the headquarters of BBC Television between 1960 and 2013. After a refurbishment, the complex reopened in 2017 with three studios in use for TV production, opera ...

. Inside, a member of the production staff can't find Emma's name on the list of presenters, prompting Edina to suggest they check again under

Queen Noor Queen or QUEEN may refer to: Monarchy * Queen regnant, a female monarch of a Kingdom ** List of queens regnant * Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king * Queen dowager, the widow of a king * Queen mother, a queen dowager who is the mother ...

Lulu Lulu may refer to: Companies * LuLu, an early automobile manufacturer * Lulu.com, an online e-books and print self-publishing platform, distributor, and retailer * Lulu Hypermarket, a retail chain in Asia * Lululemon Athletica or simply Lulu, ...

. Emma and Edina bicker in a dressing room when Edina insists that the point of Emma's participation should be to gain greater exposure for herself. Edina urges Emma to lobby director and Comic Relief founder

Richard Curtis Richard Whalley Anthony Curtis (born 8 November 1956) is a New Zealand-born British screenwriter, producer and film director. One of Britain's most successful comedy screenwriters, he is known primarily for romantic comedy films, among them '' ...

for a role in one of his films. When Richard visits the dressing room to apologise for Emma having been left off the list, Edina and Patsy fail to recognise him and ask him to fetch Richard straightaway. Emma angrily writes a cheque to the charity and storms off. When the production staffer returns to collect Emma (now scheduled to appear after

Graham Norton Graham William Walker (born 4 April 1963), better known by his stage name Graham Norton, is an Irish actor, author, comedian, commentator, and presenter. Well known for his work in the UK, he is a five-time BAFTA TV Award winner for his comed ...

), Edina and Patsy first conceal (in the dressing room) and then loudly acknowledge (on-stage, live, during the Comic Relief special) Emma's departure. Patsy is struck by stage fright while Edina attempts a song. Once Patsy wets herself, both are quickly shooed from the stage by a horrified Graham.

also appears in the sketch as a production staffer.

Future episodes

Following the fifth series and the "White Box" special, no further series were produced. However, in 2011, Saunders wrote three specials that were broadcast to commemorate ''Absolutely Fabulous'' 20th anniversary. The three specials"—"Identity", "Job" and "Olympics"—were broadcast on 25 December 2011, 1 January 2012 and 23 July 2012.

Notes

References

External links

''Absolutely Fabulous'' series 5
– list of episodes on

IMDb IMDb (an abbreviation of Internet Movie Database) is an online database of information related to films, television series, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and personal biographies, ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Absolutely Fabulous (Series 5) 2003 British television seasons Series 5