Absolutely Fabulous (series 3)
| Absolutely Fabulous (series 3) | |
|---|---|
 Original UK DVD | |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC One |
| Original release | March 30 – May 11, 1995 |
The third series of Absolutely Fabulous, a British sitcom, premiered on BBC One on 30 March 1995. This series consists of six episodes and concluded on 11 May 1995. Initially, the third series was to be the final series of Absolutely Fabulous, however, the following year, Jennifer Saunders decided to write two specials titled The Last Shout and this served as an official finale to the series. Again, these were not the final episodes of the series.
Guest stars for this series include Kate O'Mara, Rebecca Front, Celia Imrie, Naomi Campbell and Ruby Wax.
Cast
Main
| Cast | Character |
|---|---|
| Jennifer Saunders | Edina Monsoon |
| Joanna Lumley | Patsy Stone |
| Julia Sawalha | Saffron Monsoon |
| Jane Horrocks | Bubble |
| June Whitfield | Mother |
Guest stars
- Kate O'Mara – Jackie (episode 2)
- Christopher Malcolm – Justin (episode 2)
- Gary Beadle – Oliver (episode 2)
- Christopher Ryan – Marshall (episode 2)
- Rebecca Front – Cherysh (episode 2)
- James Dreyfus – Christopher (episode 3)
- Ian Gelder – David (episode 3)
- Idris Elba – Hilton (episode 3)
- Andrew Loudon – Geoff (episode 3)
- Naoko Mori – Sarah (episodes 3 & 5)
- Caroline Waldron – Caroline (episodes 3 & 5)
- Lee Walters – Boy 1 (episode 3)
- Ben Soamers – Boy 2 (episode 3)
- Damien Hunt – Serge (episode 3)
- Stewart Piper – Serge (episode 3)
- Corran Royal – Serge (episode 3)
- Celia Imrie – Claudia Bing (episode 4)
- Naomi Campbell – as herself (episode 4)
- Simon Stokes – Gerard (episode 4)
- Paul Reynold – Squeak (episode 4)
- Peter Richardson – Tony (episode 4)
- Joanna Bowen – Journalist (episode 4)
- Lulu – as herself (episodes 4 [voice only] & 5)
- Kathy Burke – Magda (episodes 5 & 6)
- Helen Lederer – Catriona (episode 5)
- Harriet Thorpe – Fleur (episode 5)
- John Hudson – Lecturer (episode 5)
- David Cardy – Candid Cameraman (episode 5)
- Louis Hillier – Candid Cameraman (episode 5)
- Kevin Allen – (episode 6)
- Mossie Smith – Diane (episode 6)
- Ruby Wax – Candy (episode 6)
- Suzanne Bertish – Gina (episode 6)
- Sean Chapman – Santé (episode 6)
- Mo Gaffney – Bo (episode 6)
- Josie Lawrence – (episode 6)
- Max Brandt – Mitchell Friedman (episode 6)
- Drew Elliot – Justice of the Peace (episode 6)
- C.G. Varesko – New York Transvestite (episode 6)
- Raven Oh – New York Transvestite (episode 6)
- Andre Shoals – New York Transvestite (episode 6)
- Rupert Penry-Jones – Boy at Party (episode 6)
- Daniella Denby-Ashe – Saffy's Daughter (episode 6)
- Danny Newman – Saffy's Son (episode 6)
Episodes
| # | Title | Original airdate | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | "Door Handle" | 30 March 1995 | 28 minutes |
| Eddy has been given a trendy electronic organiser and has used it to plan her entire day in excruciating detail. However, despite a number of hints, she fails to remember her daughter's birthday. Also, Saffy is getting impatient because Edina hasn't attempted to remodel the kitchen, which was destroyed by fire some time ago. In fact, she has not even chosen a design. Later that day, she remembers a doorhandle she quite liked – in New York City. She and Patsy fly out to New York and enjoy a grand day out; Eddy finds and photographs the doorhandle and has her navel pierced. When they get home late at night, they fail to notice for some time that Saffy has remodelled the kitchen in their absence. When Saffron confronts her mother about forgetting her birthday, Edina explains that she "gave (Saffron) her birthday." | |||
| 14 | "Happy New Year" | 6 April 1995 | 29 minutes |
|
Eddy and Patsy plan a fabulous New Years Eve party, but their plans are ruined when Patsy's long-lost sister Jackie pays a call while they are preparing to go out. Jackie is an older, crueller version of Patsy, and soon everyone dislikes her except Patsy, who is starstruck by her wickedness. Patsy insists on taking her sister to the party; Jackie, however, seems reluctant to leave the house, and she asks for food and claims to be too tired to go out. Worse is to come: Jackie then confides that she is homeless and wants to stay with Eddy for a few months until she can raise money for a shelter for unwanted cats and dogs. Patsy, appalled, helps Jackie loot Edina's bedroom to raise the necessary funds but then decides to throw her out the house. She then goes to collect Edina and head for the party, but it's too late. For the first time in her adult life, Eddy faces the supreme humiliation of seeing in the New Year surrounded by her family in the sitting room. Also appearing: Gary Beadle (Oliver), Rebecca Front (Cherysh), Kate O'Mara (Jackie) | |||
| 15 | "Sex" | 20 April 1995 | 29 minutes |
|
A discussion on enlarging Edina's bedroom leads to a rare visit inside Serge's bedroom. While looking around, Saffron discovers a porn magazine and tries to throw it away, but Edina and Patsy prevent her. Patsy then begins reminiscing about sex in their youth, but Eddy can't remember it, even though Patsy assures her she was there. It turns out Edina isn't sexually active and plans are made to hire male prostitutes via Edina's hairdresser Christopher for an old-fashioned orgy, which is scheduled for the same night as Saffron's "Genetics and Ethics" presentation at her university. The orgy doesn't start off well; Edina can't seem to get in the mood, and the prostitutes are none too enthusiastic either. When Patsy tries to liven things up by popping in a porn film she has brought, it turns out to be Saffron's genetics video. Fearing the worst, Edina and Patsy, accompanied by Gran, Christopher, and his drag-queen boyfriend, rush off to the university, but it is too late: to Saffron's mortification the porn video – is a home movie of one of the orgies Patsy remembers but Edina has forgotten. As everyone watches, the camera shows couples love making and a young Edina asleep in a corner. Also appearing: James Dreyfus (Christopher), Idris Elba (Hilton), Ian Gelder (David), Andrew Loudon (Geoff), Ben Soames (Boy), Caroline Waldron (Caroline), Lee Walters (Boy) | |||
| 16 | "Jealous" | 27 April 1995 | 28 minutes |
|
Edina is hell-bent on winning a PR award to the point that she hires Will Self to write her acceptance speech and clashes with arch-rival Claudia Bing for the best position in proximity to the stage. It goes pear shaped; despite Edina bribing the judges Claudia wins, and Edina and Patsy head home in anger. Saffron and Gerard, one of her professors, fall in love and start to flirt in the kitchen. Edina decides she wants to come up with a campaign that will out-do Claudia's. Saffron finds out that Gerard is married with children. Edina hears about this and, in a rare defence of her daughter's honour, punches him in the face. At a PR meeting, Edina's speech is stolen, so she launches into her own diatribe that proves to be quite successful. Edina and Patsy go to a dump to find the speech, but end up on a trash barge headed for Ostend. Also appearing: Joanna Bowen (Journalist), Naomi Campbell (Herself), Celia Imrie (Claudia), Paul Reynolds (Squeak), Peter Richardson (Tony), Simon Stokes (Gerard) | |||
| 17 | "Fear" | 4 May 1995 | 29 minutes |
|
Saffron has moved out of the house and into university housing, leaving a despondent Edina home alone. Meanwhile, Patsy learns that Ella magazine has folded, and Magda suggests that she goes with her to work in New York. Edina and Patsy commiserate drunkenly with each other on the sudden changes in their lives. Saffron returns and is appalled at their behaviour. Edina announces that she plans to sell the house and "find herself", which irritates Saffron. Edina's plans also mean that she's cutting off Patsy, which prompts her to take the job in New York, thereby putting their relationship on hiatus. Also appearing: John Hudson (Lecturer), Caroline Waldron (Caroline), Lulu (Herself) | |||
| 18 | "The End" | 11 May 1995 | 26 minutes |
|
Edina embarks on finding herself, only to realise that it's well below her expectations. Patsy finds herself lost, lonely and out of depth in New York. Saffron settles into university life and Gran spends her days at the Monsoon house, drinking champagne and watching home-shopping television. Edina and Patsy realise that their lives are nothing without each other, and reunite on top of Carnegie Hall Tower. They return home to find that Gran has been arrested for squatting and Saffron loses her temper because of their unpleasant behaviour. The episode ends with a flash-forward to Edina and Patsy, 25 years older but not much wiser. Also appearing: Kevin Allen (Ben), Suzanne Bertish (Gina), Max Brant (Mitchel Friedman), Sean Chapman (Santé), Daniela Denby-Ashe (Saffy's Daughter), Drew Eliot (Justice Of The Peace), Josie Lawrence (Cable TV Presenter), Danny Newman (Saffy's Son), Rupert Penry-Jones (Boy At Party), Mossie Smith (Diane), Ruby Wax (Candy) | |||
The Last Shout
As Series Three was initially to be the last, Jennifer Saunders announced she would be writing two subsequent specials, titled "The Last Shout", so that the series would have a proper finale. The specials were produced in 1996 and were broadcast over consecutive nights on 6 and 7 November 1996.
| # | Title | Original airdate | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | "The Last Shout I" | 6 November 1996 | 43 minutes |
|
Edina's morning ritual is swimming with a dolphin that she has in a tank in her room. They are off to Val-d'Isère that afternoon, so Patsy and Edina spend the morning at the gym and the office, while listening to an interview of Edina recorded for Radio 4, Desert Island Discs. Meanwhile, Paolo, Saffy's Italian boyfriend, proposes marriage. Patsy and Edina arrive at the Alps, but it is not what they expected as there are no celebrities and no night clubs for them to enjoy. After dinner at a local restaurant, Patsy and Edina are back in the apart-hotel where they both argue because of how they have always been together in the present life and the previous ones. In a rage they start destroying the apartment, which they soon after start to enjoy. The next morning, Edina and Patsy go skiing, but Edina gets lost and almost falls off a cliff. She "dreams" of going to heaven, but God tells her it is not her time yet. Meanwhile, in London, Mrs Monsoon returns home after spending the day at the airport where she had gone to meet arriving friends. However, she explains that she got into a plane that didn't take off, she got registered, and her suitcase was blown up. She had met a woman dressed as an Arab who brings her home: it happens to be Bo. Also appearing: Marcella Detroit (Angel), Marianne Faithfull (God), Tom Hollander (Paolo) | |||
| 20 | "The Last Shout II" | 7 November 1996 | 42 minutes |
|
Patsy and Edina return from Val-d'Isère to find Mrs Monsoon's mad American friends have moved into her house. Edina lies in bed for three days claiming to have stigmatas, that she paints on herself with lipstick. Saffron, busy preparing the wedding, argues over Edina's claims of being Jesus Christ. When Edina realises that Paolo's parents are rich, she finally shows enthusiasm for the upcoming celebration. Saffy remains smitten with Paolo who doesn't appear to be impressed with her. Paolo's parents come to visit and the mother decides that Saffron is not good enough, but Patsy makes her change her mind, blackmailing her with their past as "actresses" in a pornographic "Bond" movie (actually Bond Meets Black Emanuelle). Edina chooses St Columba's in Knightsbridge for the ceremony and takes Saffy to Christian Lacroix who designs the wedding dress. The wedding ceremony commences. Eddy pushes Saffy's bridesmaid Sarah away and replaces her with "the Gucci girl." When the minister asks if there are any objections, Edina sees God again, who stands by the minister and shakes her head to the marriage. Eddy disrupts the ceremony and Paolo calmly leaves with the Gucci girl. Later Patsy and Eddy tell Saffy that they are going on her honeymoon trip. Also appearing: Gary Beadle (Oliver), Christopher Biggins (Himself), Dora Bryan (Millie), Connor Burrowes (Choirboy), Nicky Clarke (Himself), Marcella Detroit (Angel), Ed Devereaux (Mac), Carmen du Sautoy (Kalishia), Marianne Faithfull (God), Georgina Grenville (Gucci Girl), Candida Gubbins (Shop Assistant), Tom Hollander (Paolo), Christian Lacroix (Himself), Calum Macleod ("Vicar"/Minister), Suzy Menkes (Herself), Bruce Oldfield (Himself), Alan Talbot (Carlo) | |||
Award nominations
Series 3
- —Nominated: BAFTA Award for Best Comedy (Programme or Series) - Bob Spiers, Jennifer Saunders & Jon Plowman
- —Nominated: Best Comedy Performance - Joanna Lumley
The Last Shout
- —Nominated: BAFTA Award for Best Comedy (Programme or Series) - Jennifer Saunders, Bob Spiers, Janice Thomas & Jon Plowman
- —Nominated: Best Comedy Performance - Joanna Lumley
Release
Reception
| Episode | IMDb rating | TV.com rating | TheTVDB rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | 8.5/10 | 8.7/10 | 8/10 |
| 3.2 | 8.8/10 | 8.9/10 | 8/10 |
| 3.3 | 8.9/10 | 8.9/10 | 8/10 |
| 3.4 | 8.4/10 | 8.8/10 | 8/10 |
| 3.5 | 8.2/10 | 8.6/10 | 8/10 |
| 3.6 | 8.6/10 | 8.7/10 | 8/10 |
The Last Shout
| Episode | IMDb rating | TV.com rating | TheTVDB rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8.4/10 | 8.5/10 | 8/10 |
| 2 | 8.3/10 | 8.8/10 | 8/10 |
Home Media
VHS (United Kingdom)
- Series 3 – Volume 1: "Doorhandle" / "Happy New Year" / "Sex" – 2 October 1995[1]
- Series 3 – Volume 2: "Jealous" / "Fear" / "The End" – 2 October 1995[2]
- The Complete Series 3 – 25 November 2002[3]
- As part of the "Series 1-3" (6-VHS set) – 24 January 2000[4]
- As part of the "Series 1-4" (8-VHS set) – 25 November 2002[5]
DVD (Region 1)
- "Complete Series 3" – 13 March 2001[6]
- "Complete Series 3" re-release – 13 September 2005
- As part of "Complete Series 1–3" (4-disc set) – 13 March 2001[7]
- As part of "Complete Series 1–3" re-release (4-disc set) – 4 October 2005[8]
- As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely All of It!" (9-disc set) – 27 May 2008[9]
- As Part of the "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely All of It!" DVD set - 5 November 2013 (10-disc set includes Series 1-5, specials & 20th Anniversary Specials)[10]
DVD (Region 2)
- "Series 3" – 12 November 2001[11]
- As part of "Series 1–4" (5-disc set) – 25 November 2002[12]
- As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything" (10-disc set) – 15 November 2010[13]
- As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything - The Definitive Edition" (11-disc set) – 17 March 2014[14]
DVD (Region 4)
- "Series 3" – 1 July 2002[15]
- As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything" (9-disc set) – 20 April 2006[16]
- As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Complete Collection" (10-disc set) – 5 April 2011[17]
- As Part of the "Absolutely Everything: Definitive Edition" (11-disc set) – 30 April 2014[18]
The Last Shout
- United States
- DVD as part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Special" – 30 September 2003 (includes 2002 special "Gay")[19]
- DVD as part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Special" re-release – 8 May 2007 (Includes 2002 special "Gay)[20]
- DVD as part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely All of It!" – 5 November 2013[9]
- United Kingdom
- Australia
Other media
Prior to the third series, a dramatized behind-the-scenes special was broadcast on 6 January 1995. The special was titled 'How to Be Absolutely Fabulous' and featured Jennifer Saunders as she enters the BBC studio in which the woman at reception is unaware of who Saunders is. Unable to convince the receptionist that she is in fact Edina for the series, Sunders, along with the camera crew runs up to the Absolutely Fabulous office, despite being refused access from the receptions. Once in the off, Saunders talks about the origins of the series. The special features clips from the series.[23]
A second special, released in 1998 and titled 'Absolutely Fabulous: A Life' features Edina and her mother as she and a camera crew are filming the story of Edina's life in a documentary. The setting for the documentary is in the charity shop in which her mother works. Edina talks about her surroundings in the charity shop, a setting that she is unaccustomed to and certainly is not to her taste. She also reminisces about her life. The special features clips from the series.[24]
Both specials were featured outside of the actual series and are not included or counted as episodes.
References
- ↑ "Absolutely Fabulous: Series 3 - Doorhandle [VHS]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ↑ "Absolutely Fabulous - Series-3 Part-2: Jealous [VHS]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ↑ "Absolutely Fabulous: The Complete Series 3 [VHS]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ↑ "Absolutely Fabulous: (Box Set)". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ↑ "Absolutely Fabulous Series 1-4 Box Set". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ↑ "Absolutely Fabulous - Complete Series 3". Amazon.com. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ↑ "Absolutely Fabulous: Series 1 to 3 DVD". blu-ray.com. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ↑ "Absolutely Fabulous - Complete Series 1-3". Amazon.com. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- 1 2 "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely All of It DVD". blu-ray.com. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
- ↑ "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything". blu-ray.com. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ↑ "Absolutely Fabulous - Series 3 [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ↑ "Absolutely Fabulous: Series 1-4 Box Set DVD". blu-ray.com. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- 1 2 "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything DVD". Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- 1 2 "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything DVD". blu-ray.com. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ↑ "Absolutely Fabulous Series 3 on DVD". dvdorchard.com.au. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- 1 2 "Absolutely Fabulous Complete Collection on DVD". dvdorchard.com.au. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- 1 2 "Absolutely Fabulous Series 1 5 Plus Specials Complete Collection on DVD". dvdorchard.com.au. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- 1 2 "Absolutely Fabulous Absolutely Everything The Definitive Edition on DVD". dvdorchard.com.au. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ↑ "Absolutely Fabulous Special". Amazon.com. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ↑ "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Special". Amazon.com. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ↑ "Absolutely Fabulous: The Last Shout [VHS]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ↑ "Absolutely Fabulous: The Last Shout [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ↑ "How to Be Absolutely Fabulous". Imdb.com. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ↑ "Absolutely Fabulous: A Life". Imdb.com. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
External links
- Absolutely Fabulous at the Internet Movie Database
- Absolutely Fabulous Season 3 at the Internet Movie Database