Country of origin United Kingdom Original network BBC One | No. of episodes 8 | |
Original release October 17 (2003-10-17) – December 24, 2003 (2003-12-24) | ||
The fifth series of the British sitcom Absolutely Fabulous premiered on BBC One on 17 October 2003. The series consists of eight episodes, which concluded on 24 December 2003, with a Christmas episode which was included as part of the series. A Christmas special, "White Box" followed the fifth series and was broadcast in 2004. At present, no further series have followed. However, three specials were broadcast several years later to mark the show's 20th anniversary for 2012.
Contents
Award and nominations
Series 5
Television and Radio Industries Club Awards
—Won: TRIC Award for Best TV Comedy Programme
White Box
BAFTA Awards
—Nominated: BAFTA Award for Best Make Up & Hair Design – Christine Cant
Reception
Christmas Special
Home media
DVD (Region 1)
DVD (Region 2)
DVD (Region 4)
'White Box special
Note: "White Box" has never been released in the UK as an individual DVD, but was first released as part of the "Absolutely Everything" collection in 2010
Other media
A behind-the-scenes special documentary, "The Story Of Absolutely Fabulous", was broadcast on 2 January 2004. The special gives a definitive account of the history of the series.
A Comic Relief special sketch of Absolutely Fabulous was broadcast on 11 March 2005. The story follows Edina and Patsy as they reluctantly accompany Emma Bunton to the taping of Comic Relief at the BBC Television Centre. Inside, a member of the production staff can't find Emma's name on the list of presenters, prompting Edina to suggest they check again under Queen Noor or Lulu. Emma and Edina bicker in a dressing room when Edina insists that the point of Emma's participation should be to gain greater exposure for herself. Edina urges Emma to lobby director and Comic Relief founder Richard Curtis for a role in one of his films. When Richard visits the dressing room to apologise for Emma having been left off the list, Edina and Patsy fail to recognise him and ask him to fetch Richard straightaway. Emma angrily writes a cheque to the charity and storms off. When the production staffer returns to collect Emma (now scheduled to appear after Graham Norton), Edina and Patsy first conceal (in the dressing room) and then loudly acknowledge (on-stage, live, during the Comic Relief special) Emma's departure. Patsy is struck by stage fright while Edina attempts a song. Once Patsy wets herself, both are quickly shooed from the stage by a horrified Graham. Miranda Hart also appears in the sketch as a production staffer.
Future episodes
Following the fifth series and the 2004 Christmas Special, no further series were produced. However, in 2011, Jennifer Saunders wrote for three upcoming specials which were broadcast to commemorate Absolutely Fabulous' 20th Anniversary. The "20th Anniversy Specials", "Identity", "Job" and "Olympics", were broadcast in late 2011 and early to mid 2012.