20th Anniversary Collection: The comic genius of Jennifer Saunders

from Conversations · host Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The co-creator of Absolutely Fabulous says her remarkable career as one of the world's funniest women is all down to a series of happy accidents. When she and her great pal Dawn French were making their first series, French & Saunders, they were given complete freedom by the BBC, including the freedom to fail.Despite a few mishaps along the way and a battle with breast cancer, Jennifer now says that early freedom, risk-taking and random opportunities were the best things that could possibly have happened to them.Further informationFirst broadcast in April, 2014.Standout story – Timothy SpallYou can hear Sarah's full conversation with Timothy Spall on the ABC Listen App, or wherever you get your podcasts.You can also read all about the Conversations origin story on the ABC News website.This episode of Conversations explores memoir, books, writing, TV comedy, Ab Fab, celebrity memoir, battling cancer, survival stories, breast cancer, British humour, dark humour, Black Books, the Comic Strip, Friends, Roseanne, Adrian Edmondson, Edina Monsoon, Joanna Lumley, Patsy Stone, Muppets, Spice Girls, Top Gear.

What this episode covers

The co-creator of Absolutely Fabulous says her remarkable career as one of the world's funniest women is all down to a series of happy accidents. When she and her great pal Dawn French were making their first series, French & Saunders, they were given complete freedom by the BBC, including the freedom to fail. Despite a few mishaps along the way and a battle with breast cancer, Jennifer now says that early freedom, risk-taking and random opportunities were the best things that could possibly have happened to them. Further information First broadcast in April, 2014. Standout story – Timothy Spall You can hear Sarah's full conversation with Timothy Spall on the ABC Listen App, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also read all about the Conversations origin story on the ABC News website. This episode of Conversations explores memoir, books, writing, TV comedy, Ab Fab, celebrity memoir, battling cancer, survival stories, breast cancer, British humour, dark humour, Black Books, the Comic Strip, Friends, Roseanne, Adrian Edmondson, Edina Monsoon, Joanna Lumley, Patsy Stone, Muppets, Spice Girls, Top Gear.

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20th Anniversary Collection: The comic genius of Jennifer Saunders

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This episode was published on August 10, 2025.

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