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Edina and Patsy return! Absolutely Fabulous new BBC anniversary shows

By April MacIntyre Aug 29, 2011, 18:12 GMT

06/21/2011 - Joanna Lumley - McLaren Automotive London Showroom Grand Opening - Arrivals - One Hyde Park - London, UK © Landmark / PR Photos

Happy news from the BBC as the drinking duo of Edina and Patsy of "Absolutely Fabulous" are coming back to telly in late 2011, and will resume in the present day, building up to the London Olympics.

"Absolutely Fabulous" was an award-winning series ran from 1992 to 2003 with a special in 2004. The new run of the series will air on BBC One later this year with three specials to celebrate the show's 20th anniversary, the BBC reports.

Show stars Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley are reprising their roles as Edina and Patsy, and Julia Sawalha will resume as Edina's daughter Saffy, June Whitfield as Edina's mother and Jane Horrocks as personal assistant Bubble.

The show centered on the weathy weight-obsessed PR fashionista Edina and her sex-mad alcoholic magazine editor pal Patsy.

Saunders told the BBC: "Like a good bottle of champagne we hope that we have got better with time without losing any of our sparkle.Last week when we started filming in dear old west London, it was as if nothing had changed. It was raining. Nevertheless, we are so happy to be working for an audience that has grown just a tiny bit older like us, but is still willing to let us fall over on TV in the name of PR."

Jon Plowman, executive producer of BBC Comedy and original producer of the Absolutely Fabulous series, said: "Viewers have been fantastically loyal in their devotion to our show, so we're really thrilled to say that it's coming back for three new shows to celebrate our 20th anniversary.

"All of the originals who are back together again are still truly absolutely fabulous and the new adventures of Edina, Patsy, Saffy, Bubble and Mother, plus a few surprising guests, will be a real treat for viewers."