Ab Fab to return

Absolutely Fabulous is set to return to BBC One after six years, Joanna Lumley has revealed.

Although the BBC has not yet confirmed the show, the actress said three new episodes will be filmed this summer.

However, she added that co-star Jennifer Saunders a had not yet started on the script – because she was too busy writing Spice Girls: The Musical for the West End.

Lumley told Hello! magazine: ‘In late August I start filming on three episodes of Absolutely Fabulous, which we are all ecstatic about.’

She first sparked speculation about a possible return for the show last year, when she said: ‘Jen wrote to me and said, “Let's talk through it. What do you think?”. And I said, “Bring it on”. Because we're all still here. Mother's still alive, the wonderful June Whitfield. Julia Sawalha, Jane Horrocks [are] all still alive and available ... and I think we just have to do it,.’

The final episode of the BBC show aired on Christmas Day in 2004 after seven successful years, from 1992 to 1996 and then from 2001 to 2004.

A BBC spokeswoman said: ‘We're putting the finishing touches to the deal to bring it back and as soon as we're in a position to confirm it we will.’

Published: 21 Apr 2011