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From The Sunday Times

August 12, 2007

Farewell French and Saunders

After 20 years, French and Saunders are still our most successful, and funniest, female duo. So why are they calling time on their partnership — and coming over all serious about matters of life and death? Photograph: Perou

Chrissy Iley

Dawn French is in a cottage in sodden Wiltshire, where she’s filming Lark Rise to Candleford, adapted as a drama series for BBC1. She’s playing a pregnant woman. She has to wear a corset. Her hair is a little redder than its usual chocolate because she didn’t want to wear a wig for the part. She has pink cheeks, no make-up, and no lines, either. “Imagine, why am I supposed to be pregnant at my age? I’m 50.” She’s only 49, 50 in October. Typical French. More comfortable with the bleaker view. Yet she is endlessly chirpy, frothy, friendly.

It’s a neat, sweet cottage. She took it on so she wouldn’t be tempted to party with the rest of the cast, who are in a hotel, and she wanted to write her memoirs. Reflection is the mood. After more than 20 years of being on TV together, the double act French and Saunders are putting together a retrospective – A Bucket o’ French & Saunders. Although it is hung together around new material that is still infected with the earlier savagery and outrageousness, this probably is the end of French and Saunders as we know it. Over the years we’ve watched them change and grow. The chemistry between them is still compelling. Saunders, deadpan; French, ridiculous.

They met at the Central School of Speech and Drama in 1977. Didn’t like each other to begin with, but ended up sharing a house. They’ve had highly successful separate careers, but even after Absolutely Fabulous and The Vicar of Dibley, there’s a comfort in thinking of them together.

French lays out chocolate crispy cakes and chocolate brazils and makes coffee. She also lays out photos from her album spanning 30 years. Hauntingly young faces of her husband, Lenny Henry, Saunders, Alexei Sayle, Rik Mayall and Saunders’s husband, Adrian Edmondson. The Comic Strip years, the Young Ones years. Everyone much thinner but with terrible hair.

In front of me is a lifetime in comedy and romance: Saunders looking thoughtful in her wedding dress, being squeezed tightly by French in a pink pillbox hat. Their first appearance on stage together at Central involving French in a corset and Saunders posing with a feather duster. Before all the extravagance of the costumes, there are pictures of them in an early stage show, where their expressions alone are the comedy – Saunders’s curling lip and French’s over-enthusiasm. French says: “Look, she’s even got her heels on with a tracksuit. She wears heels a lot. I don’t. I’ve never been particularly safe on heels. In fact, she and her youngest daughter, who’s 16, swap shoes quite a lot. Jen’s got great legs, so she can get away with those wraparound dresses, you know, Diane whatsherface [von Furstenberg], and she looks quite ‘sexy office worker’.”

French says all this with a mixture of pride, disbelief and affection. She is the least likely person to swap shoes with her daughter, Billie, who is 15. French’s shoes, lined up in a corner, are flat, colourful, sensible. She shows me a picture where she’s blonde and tousled. “I was going a little bit Farrah Fawcett. Look at those terrible highlights.” She actually looks glamorous, but French tucks the photo away and finds another – her favourite. They are sitting back to back, dreamily gazing away from each other. It was taken at the time of the Comic Strip TV show. They’re gazing into a future that is now a past.

“We are almost polar opposites to what we used to be. She was incredibly disorganised and messy.” Even now, Saunders pulls off a dishevelled air, yet she has written three TV series in less than a year – Bucket, The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle, and Jam and Jerusalem. French lights up, though, when she describes her friend’s old messy ways.

“When we lived together in Chalk Farm she had a room at the top of the house. We got broken into and the police said, ‘Well, it is quite bad, but the worst is that room at the top.’ And, of course, nobody had been in there. She used to be up to her knees in old pants. Something changed when she had the kids. She got organised. Now she can’t stop sweeping.” Indeed, Jennifer had already told me that sweeping helps her think.

They have committed to going on a farewell tour next spring. French talks about Saunders with palpable love. It was not, however, love at first sight. Saunders immediately disliked French because she actually wanted to become a teacher (they were both doing a B Ed in drama and spoken language) and she seemed bubbly and confident, whereas Saunders loathed the idea of becoming a teacher and hadn’t quite grasped that was what the course was all about. Both had fathers who had been in the RAF, though Saunders came from an upper-crust family. Her mother was disheartened when her daughter couldn’t engage with the idea of going to Oxbridge. In fact, Saunders couldn’t engage with much. She came over as lazy, but she was fearful of failure, so she put things off. She told me: “Dawn was the motivator.” And French agrees that’s the way it used to be. “The good thing is that we are very different. In some ways I’m more confident. I am the anchor for certain things, she is for others. She’s much more writerly than me.”

Ab Fab started off as a 14-minute sketch in a French and Saunders show. They had time booked in the studio for a new series but suddenly an adoption agency called and said they had a baby for French. Her need to nurture was primal and vast. Looking after a new baby, she was worn out, so Saunders took the studio and did Ab Fab herself. Thus French was not threatened or jealous of its success. She was proud, and happy to be at home with her family. “I got very ‘cardigan’. I loved mashing carrots. But I couldn’t think any more.” This was a shift in their relationship. Saunders has had three children: Ella, 21, Beattie, 20, and Freya, 16, working through her pregnancies. French had always been the doer, Saunders the thinker. Then Saunders became the thinker and the doer.

“She’s like a shark in the water, Jen. One of those people who’s always swimming, always thinking. When she smells the blood, whoosh, the eyes close over. She goes into a totally concentrated thing; nothing fazes her, nothing frightens her. She can procrastinate for ever – she’s very skilled at that. But then she goes for it on the deadline. She once had Concorde wait for a script… ” Now it is French who is afraid of writing on her own. “I’m writing my memoirs, and it’s really hard. I’ve never had the bizarre experience of doubting all the time. I thought I’d look forward to it, as I like my own company…”

French is in equal parts vulnerable, open, accessible and covert. In some ways she confronts her “warts”. She is more comfortable being insulted about how she looks in these photographs than being complimented. Part of her motivation for writing a book is that someone wrote a biography without even meeting her. “It was a sort of rape. It lied about my mum and dad’s marriage, saying they split up when they never did. My mum still cries about it.”

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Who really gives a stuff about men versus women comedians/commediennes or the only female duo in the UK or universe or whatever? French and Saunders, both singly and collectively, have amused audiences all over the world (at least all over the Western world). Perhaps they are passe although I don't happen to think so, but they've done it. Easy to criticise from the shadows of anonymity but Saunders and French have been exposed to the searchlight of public scrutiny for a very long time and haven't been found wanting. Bonzer chicks!!

Ian, Fremantle, Australia

They stopped being funny around 1997. I used to watch the Christmas specials more in hope than expectation. The writing got very lazy and formulaic, though in fairness, they were and still are terrific comic actors/actresses!

I think over time they just came to rely on that too often and the scripts seemed like they hadn't had a lot of love.

There is no misogyny here - typical women, getting all defensive (joke!) - just honest opinions. On TV as in life, funny men vastly outnumber the funny women. And as someone else pointed out, being Britain's funniest female duo is no real achievement when you are Britain's only female duo.

They had their moments but they've been in decline for a while. Now, when is Last Of The Summer Wine going to get canned?

Jonny W, London, UK

My Goodness, I love comedy! Well done Gabriel Egemonye, you made me laugh. Long live the "Vicar of Barnet".

Marc, St. Barthelemy,

Dawn French, I hope you read this but if not, I hope some that reds it will tell you what I have written.
I really like your show and acting. Just like your father said, you are a beautiful womam.
You said you live in the future and a little bit of in the past. You still need to live in ethernity. You will not die young as you have been predicting or saying from when you were young. I say this because the bible says 'you shall live and not die to declare the glory of the Lord" . This is simply available to everyone. I suggest you give your life to Christ and receive Him as Lord and saviour and you will have eternal life. It would be such a sham that afetr having such a beautiful time on earth making so many people happy for one not to be happy when they are dead physically. God bless you Dawn.

Gabriel Egemonye, Barnet, Herts

i'm actually quite depressed. i am pretty young so i did not discover french and saunders until just a litle bit ago. now they are ending. :( i think they are hilarious. i can watch their show over and over again and never get bored. they make me laugh so hard. geniuses i tell you. i wish i could have saw them live. oh well. i am collecting the dvd's so i will have them in my home forever. thank you f & s for a fantastic show.

Emma, Minnesota, USA

..love French and Saunders - together and/or seperately. Send more!!

Lyn Haslam, alameda, california, usa

"Simply amazing. Unique and new. Every man's waking dream." That about raps it up, really. And, yes, I"m doing the accent. French and Saunders are the reason we have modern British sketch pastiche. No one is really doing Ade and Rik or Vic and Bob for that matter. They created a format and style that sets the standard for todays "BBC big hits." Living in the States, as I do, the only thing we have close to them is Kathy and Mo and they are just as brilliant, but not really have left their mark on American sketch comedy like your silly, wonderful due. I hope I am lucky to have enough money to take holiday (what with the pound) and get tickets to see the Farewell Tour. The T-shirt just won't do. I wish you much success and hope you got those offices ovelooking The Blue Peter garden. Cheers, thanks alot.

Anthony Hoffman, Long Island City, New York/ USA

I so hope we can see more episodes of AbFab and The Vicar of Dibley - as well as Chef with Lenny Henry. To that end, it would be cool to see all 3 shows tied together for a grande finale - I mean Eddy eating and Patsy drinking in the Chateau Anglie, with Chef going mad and passing out and having Geraldine Grainger aka The Vickster giving last rites - it wouls be diabolically funny and a awesome conclusion of all 3 hilarious series! C'mom yawl - it could be the biggest finale of BBC history! We love all of the BBC shows here in the USA - we want more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mike Payne, Oklahoma City, USA

Never even raised a smile in our house. Deeply unfunny to the point of being irritating (although not as bad as Catherine Tate). I could never see the attraction.

Sarah, Norwich ,

They are the tops. They touch an English sensibility. I have adored them from the start. I pity those of you who have written in who don't get it - you must miss out on an awful lot in life.
Good luck to them both in their future endeavours.

John, Londdon, UK

I agree that victoria wood is the funniest woman comedienne.

I also agree that they and their chums hijacked the BBC comedy dept and created jobs for one another.

They were OK comediennes, no more than that.

kerry wells, istanbul, turkey

I love them love them love them! I hope they reconsider going their separate ways, but whatever their choice I wish them only the best. Many thanks for all the great laughs over the years.

Emily, Seattle, Washington, USA

French and Saunders are, in my opinion, the funniest double act around. I am gutted to see them go, but happy they leave behind a stunning example of how comedy is done! Original and something never to be replicated! I hope they release dvd's of their work!!

Nat, Knutsford, Cheshire

I see a sketch, about poodle clipping!, dead dogs all over the place and a hysterical clipper trying to blow life back into them before the owners return!

Jennifer has to be the clipper, Dawn an owner

yes/no?

Ross, Montreal, Canada

Nothing as ridiculous, smart and soul filled exists. Fearless truth on rapturous wheeles of fire.
THank you to them both

kathryn westgard, reston, vA

Nothing as ridiculous, smart and soul filled exists. Fearless truth on rapturous wheeles of fire.
THank you to them both

kathryn westgard, reston, vA/usa

I have watched Fernch and Saunders since I was 16, and always have enjoyed watching them. I think that the twosome work extremely well. I for one will miss them, however I wish them all the luck with all the projects they decide to do in the future they deserve every happiness and their success to continue.

J Yarlett, Guildford, England

Sorry, Victoria Wood and Julie Walters are the funniest female duo on TV. French and Saunders always did better on their own [Ab Fab, Vicar of Dibley]

Helen M, Solihull, England

I think that they are too old for comedy. Give it up. Step aside and stop living in the eighties!

Kathy , London, England

From the comments here it seems that men, in particular, don't appreciate funny females. It's fair enough. Personally I never laughed at Ricky Gervais, I think Peter Kay is embarrassingly un-funny and so was Bob Hope. Although Tommy Cooper, bless him, was the greatest. .
I love French & Saunders, they share a sense of the ridiculous which is something the average man doesn't comprehend. I shall miss them both but hey sweetie, we all have to retire sometime... Good luck to them both..

Jay, Ipswich, Suffolk

In my opinion French and Saunders are extremely funny I saw their live show in Liverpool a few years ago and it was one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Humour is a very personal thing - I find Catherine's Tate's show utterly and completely dreary - I can see that she is a talented actress, but I just don't find her funny at all, merely annoying.

Jon Mills, Oswestry, Shropshire

Trouble is with most men (below comments), is that they just can't bear remotely talented and successful women. Especially when, on occasion, their sex is the butt of the humour. Some great evidence of this here!

no commercials, london,

They've certainly had many funny moments whether they were understood in Kirkcaldy or not. Humour is subjective, isn't it? Some people laugh heartily at Joe Pasquale - that is their right

Kevin, Bath, UK

I went out of my way to say that there are lots of funny women about now. Jo Brand, Victoria Wood, Jenny Eclair, and the Smack the Pony Women, Catherine Tait, I could go on. It's just that French and Sunders have no talent.

harry liddon, garsington,

Dawn French claims that Jennifer Saunders "... had Concorde wait for a script" as if this were something admirable rather than a demonstration of the selfishness and arrogance for which performers and the media classes are renowned. Provided the story is not apocryphal - which I suspect it is (was electronic or fax transmission, not possible?) - there seems to have been scant regard for the other passengers who would have paid a premium price for their supersonic passage and may well have had urgent personal or business matters to attend to. Again, allowing for the veracity of the story one must also the decision of the flight operator, presumably BA to allow their services to other customers to be disrupted on such tenuous grounds.

Fred Wannch, Bangkok, Thailand

I cannot believe anyone out there truly thinks this pair are funny!

Linda, Kirkcaldy, Fife

I'd like to add to my earlier comment........

Patsy, in Jennifer Saunder's AB FAB is hilarious. There are very few male comedy writer/performers who would have the generosity to give another character some of the best lines in their TV show.

Jennifer comes across as diffident and self-effacing about her work and talents. Would that the likes of Ricky Gervais demonstrated such modesty!

Dorothy Land, Halesworth, UK

Everybody has their own opinion, different people have different kind of humour or programs they like. I absolutely loved/love these two, they make my life much happier. They are my cure to sadness.
And I'm quite sad at the thought that it's going to be all over.
And above all, they are absolutley beautiful.

sara, Sint-Truiden, Belgium

I hope they mean it. They are terminally unfunny. Where is the humour? Fat birds mimicking Silence of the Lambs, for instance. Where is the humour in that?
Despite that, Saunders has a certain allure...

Bill, Sleaford, UK

Good Grief! What a bucket-load of vitriol you have poured over these hapless Comediennes!

Dawn French is one of the funniest physical clowns ever to appear on television. Like the late, great, Tommy Cooper, it's not the material but her delivery that I find hilarious. Jennifer Saunders' creation, Ab Fab, is up there amongst the cream of British Comedy.

Neither woman is ugly by anyone's standards........methinks I smell a whiff of misogyny?

Dorothy Land, Halesworth, UK

French and Saunders are great - and they have given me many many happy laughter moments over the last 20 years - v sorry to see them call it a day. I think they are both fabulous, and gorgeous !

BTW - comedy is a unique thing - not all acts appeal to me - but why not keep the bile to yourselves guys if you don't enjoy them - why are you even reading this article ?

Personally I love them ! And hooray for youtube where I can see some of their classic sketches.

sandra, Kent, kent

Chale, Chupa and Harry, you're entitled to your opinions but personally i think you're blind (would love to know what your "tastes" in comedy are, assuming you have any?!). French and Saunders were and still are great performers. i thoroughly enjoyed this article as both women rarely give interviews and keep quiet about their private lives which is as it should be. Jennifer Saunders is an incredible writer, up their with Victoria Wood in my opinion, but then you probably think she is rubbish too. Are their any female comedy writers and performers you actually like?

J, London,

About time too - they were stale and had become unimaginitve

Anthony, Swansea, Wales

How come you guys are so against Saunders and French? They are two very smart and funny ladies, or are you too dim-witted to get the jokes?

Liz, Bocas del Toro, Panama

Second attempt at a reply.....excuse if I repeat myself.

WHAT??? You guys really are pouring the Vitriol on these hapless Comediennes.

Dawn French is a quite extraordinary physical clown, up there with Tommy Cooper and Lee Evans. Jennifer Saunders' creation, AB FAB is amongst the cream of British TV Comedy.

Neither woman is ugyly by anyone's standards........ do I detect a whiff of misogyny?

Dorothy Land, Halesworth, UK

Are Chupa, Harry and Chale all chaps, do you think? Perhaps they think that it's not Quite Right for ladies to write and perform comedy at all - nothing else could justify the bizarre unfavourable comparison with the painfully awful Hale and Pace - a double-act based on two men you might meet down the pub being banal. French and Saunders' early work was of its time, but they've kept with, and frequently led, the pace as they years have progressed. At their best, the sketches were memorably hilarious and irrepressibly warm-spirited, unlike much of the bitchy, snippy comedy which is so popular now. I don't think this is going to be the last of them we'll see, thankfully.

CJ, Nottingham, Notts

our funniest female duo?

they've made a career out of bandwagoning successful films with fairly unimaginative parodies. that's fairly easy comedy. absolutely fabulous and the vicar of dibley would be in very few people's top ten comedy shows.

what's more - they're our ONLY female duo, so to say they're our funniest female duo is somewhat redundant.

Chupa Vergas, London, UK

I'm astonished at this article. Two ugly girls pulling faces don't make a comedy act. They are so devoid of talent and invention that they make Hale and Pace look good. I can only imagine that they came to notice at a time when there were few women comedians around. We now have such a wealth of genuinely funny women that they are right to retire before they get found out.

harry liddon, garsington,

Good riddance - they had stopped being funny a long, long time ago. They were indulged by commissioning chums: someone has seen reason.

Chale, Leipzig, Germany