Absolutely Fabulous

Absolutely Fabulous follows Edina Monsoon, a PR figure desperate to stay young and live large, and her booze-soaked, fashion-obsessed friend Patsy. The two dive into excess after excess, dragging Edina's put-upon teenage daughter Saffron into their chaotic orbit as she tries to keep some semblance of normal life. Episodes trade on outrageous set pieces and blunt satire of the fashion and public relations worlds, with jokes that land through repetition and escalation rather than neat resolution. Supporting figures like Bubble and Edina's mother increase the comic friction, often highlighting how the main pair’s self-centered choices ripple outward without tidy consequences.

First broadcast in 1992 on British television, Absolutely Fabulous was created by Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. Saunders wrote many episodes and starred as Edina, with Joanna Lumley, Julia Sawalha, June Whitfield and Jane Horrocks composing the core ensemble.

Across its run the series received multiple nominations at British television award shows and claimed wins at comedy-focused ceremonies, with particular recognition aimed at the writing and the lead performances. Critics and industry bodies frequently cited the chemistry between Saunders and Lumley when nominating the show.

Critics and audiences have given it generally positive reviews, reflected in a vote average of 7.526/10 from 174 votes. Viewers often single out Saunders and Lumley for their comic timing, and the show is noted for its satire of celebrity culture, consumerism, friendship and class, though its sharp, sometimes cruel humor divides opinion among audiences.

Absolutely Fabulous grew into a cult favorite, its characters and look becoming shorthand for a particular kind of glamorous selfishness. Patsy and Edina became instantly recognizable figures in British comedy, and the series left a clear mark on later satirical portrayals of fashion, PR and celebrity life, earning frequent references in pop culture and fashion commentary.