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Jennifer Saunders

Sue Lawley's castaway is comedian and actor Jennifer Saunders.

The castaway on Desert Island Discs this week is Absolutely Fabulous! Jennifer Saunders began "doing funny things with props" in the early 1980s. With her stage partner Dawn French, she toured the clubs and comedy venues making people laugh with acts like The Menopause Sisters. As part of the Comic Strip performers, she burst onto our TV screens as one of the famous, if rather manic, five.

Now through her characters Edina and Patsy, she has created a comedy classic. But as she tells Sue Lawley, Absolutely Fabulous came about because, having taken a year off from French and Saunders, the phone was ominously silent, and she had absolutely nothing else to do.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: I Didn't Have The Nerve To Say No by Blondie
Book: Traveller's Prelude by Freya Stark
Luxury: Tribute Heads By Elisabeth Frink

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Fri 27 Dec 1996 09:05
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Van Morrison

    Moondance

    • The Best Of Van Morrison.
    • Polydor.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Requiem in D minor - Lacrymosa

    Soloist: Kerte Orchestra: The Vienna Opera Orchestra

    • The Essential Mozart.
    • Decca.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Blondie

      I Didn't Have The Nerve To Say No

      • Plastic Letters.
      • Chrysalis.

  • Janis Joplin

    Cry Baby

    • Pearl.
    • Columbia.

  • Richard Wagner

    Parsifal Prelude

    Orchestra: The Concert Orchestra Of Amsterdam

    • Wagner Preludes/Siegfried/Haitink.
    • Philips.

  • Joni Mitchell

    A Case Of You

    • Blue.
    • Reprise.

  • Elvis Costello

    Sweet Pear

    • Mighty Like A Rose.
    • Warner Brothers.

  • Emmylou Harris

    Amarillo

    • Songs Of The West.
    • Warner Brothers.

  • Book Choice

    • Traveller's Prelude - Freya Stark

  • Luxury Choice

    • Tribute Heads By Elisabeth Frink

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Jennifer Saunders

Broadcasts

  • Sun 22 Dec 1996 12:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 27 Dec 1996 09:05
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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