Jennifer Saunders calls time on Absolutely Fabulous

All good things must come to an end, and after a number of revivals and a feature film, iconic ’90s sitcom Absolutely Fabulous is coming to an end for good, according to the show’s star and creator Jennifer Saunders.

Absolutely Fabulous followed the lives of PR woman Edina Monsoon (Saunders) and her vodka-soaked best friend Patsy Stone (Joanna Lumley) as they battle to remain the coolest duo in north-west London – much to the frustration of Edina’s long-suffering daughter, Saffy (Julia Sawalha).

The camp classic first hit British screens in 1992 and initially ran for three series until 1996, before making a comeback for a fourth series in 2001, and a fifth in 2004.

To celebrate the show’s 20th anniversary, three special episodes aired in the lead up to the Olympics, between 2011 and 2012. The show’s final hurrah was released in July – a feature film which earned £30m at the box office.

Despite the film’s success, howeverd Saunders has no plans to dust off the Lacroix two-piece for a sixth time. Speaking to Event magazine, the 58-year-old revealed that she wants to spend more time with her family – and explore new avenues.

“I can’t see the point of doing anything else with [Ab Fab],” she said. “It just takes so long. There’s lots of other stuff I’d like to do. Plus, I’d like to spend time with my grandchildren.”

The actor, who has three daughters, also hit out at selfie culture, which she feels is damaging girls.

“That Kim Kardashian look, it’s so automaton,” she said. “Girls spend longer and longer in the bloody bathroom, looking in the mirror, taking selfies. Girls are now getting ill because all they spend their lives doing is finding the perfect selfie.”

She added that selfie culture has led to her being stopped more and more on the street by fans.

“If you say no, they look at you like you just shot their child,’ she said. ‘Eventually you pull a face into the camera. They put it on their page and before you know it, you Google my name and that’s the first picture to pop up. Looking s***.”

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