BBC strikes int’l copro to bring back Ab Fab

The BBC is bringing back comedy series Absolutely Fabulous after striking an international coproduction deal with US cable networks Logo and BBC America.

BBC Comedy will produce 3x30mins specials starring Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley. They will be set in the present day and will see Saunders reprise her role as publicist Edina Monsoon and Lumley return as magazine editor Patsy Stone. Julia Sawalha, June Whitfield and Jane Horrocks will also return.

The show originally aired between 1992 and 2003.

The new episodes will be coproduced by MTV-owned gay and lesbian themed cable network Logo and BBC America, which both aired repeat of the original.

Jon Plowman, executive producer, BBC Comedy and original producer of the Absolutely Fabulous series, said: “Viewers have been fantastically loyal in their devotion to our show, so we’re really thrilled to say that it’s coming back for three new shows to celebrate our 20th anniversary.