Joanna Lumley says Absolutely Fabulous wouldn’t be made today – but jokes nobody would ‘dare’ cancel character Patsy
NATIONAL Treasure Joanna Lumley has admitted that ‘cancel culture’ will not affect the legacy of her much loved character on Absolutely Fabulous.
The actress starred as alcoholic fashion editor Patsy Stone from the series debut in 1992 all the way through the run of the hit BBC sitcom.
Joanna, 76, sat down with former Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries on her new show on TalkTV.
The Bedfordshire MP asked the documentary presenter whether the character would be written in the same way today due to modern audience expectations.
Speaking on Friday Night with Nadine, Joanna replied: “No. Because this started in 1991, and the world’s changed so much since then.
“I mean, you wouldn’t be able to smoke, you wouldn’t be able to drink, you wouldn’t be able to snort coke.
“I mean it was high satire on revolting people and it was just dreadfully funny and the wicked things Edina could say about people and the ghastly behaviour of Patsy – wouldn’t be allowed to do it now.”
But when she was asked if the beloved character would be ‘cancelled’ today due to political correctness, she exclaimed: “They wouldn’t dare!”
The former model also confirmed there will be no more series or movies of Ab Fab because her co-star, writer and creator Jennifer Saunders has no interest of doing more.
When asked if there was a chance of another reboot of the hit TV sitcom, she told Nadine Dorries: “No. Jennifer said not, as she wrote it, no.
“I think the thing is, that if something is stuck in your minds, like the 12 episodes of Fawlty Towers, which have become so legendary, it seems… It’s very interesting.
“Jennifer is a very, very wise woman, apart from being a brilliant writer and a beloved friend and she just said no. No more.”
This comes as legendary comedian John Cleese announced he will be making a new series of the legendary sitcom Fawlty Towers.
Reaction to the announcement was mixed, as he intends to reprise his role of Basil Fawlty, but set in a modern world.
But Joanna explained that she thinks it could be a good idea, as long as the legacy of the original series is not ruined.
The actress explained: “John is a very interesting and complicated person. And if he wants to have a crack at it, I mean it’s his show as much as it’s Connie Booth’s show, who apparently it was a bit of a shock to find it was being done but anyway that’s up to them.
“It won’t affect the 12 episodes people have grown to love.”