The nation's favourite comedy channel, Gold, is set to take a reflective look at Absolutely Fabulous, one of Britain's most-loved comic creations set in the glamourous world of fashion PR in the 90s, with a brand-new retrospective, Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out (1x 120'). It is produced by Expectation and will air at 9pm on 17th October on Gold.
"It was a fabulous wander down memory lane by actresses who only have the faintest grip on reality."The star-studded retrospective will see Jennifer Saunders (Edina Eddie Monsoon), Dame Joanna Lumley (Patsy Stone), Julia Sawalha (Saffron Saffy Monsoon) and Jane Horrocks (Bubble) reunite for the first time since 2016. Viewers will be taken on an exclusive rampage down memory lane to reveal how the show was made, pay tribute to much-missed castmember Dame June Whitfield (Mother) and celebrate its ground-breaking influence on female comedy.
Jennifer opens up her Ab Fab archives to share her original handwritten notes and faxes that formed the basis for so many of the show's most famous scenes. And she reveals the real people who inspired the timeless comic creations of Patsy and Eddie.
The Absolutely Fabulous cast and crew will be joined by a sparkling roster of celebrity guest stars and famous fans, including Ruby Wax, Tom Hollander, Emma Bunton, Meera Syal, Emerald Fennell, and Richard Curtis, to share their personal reflections on the show, alongside a host of unheard anecdotes and backstage secrets. An array of archive's best bits will be shared with viewers: from original scripts, to high-fashion outfits, made by costume designer Rebecca Hale - as well as the various glam looks created and captured by the series hair and make-up artist, Jan Sewell, in an abundance of original polaroids - to never-before-seen pictures from the rehearsal room that will show fans how the magic of Ab Fab was made.The new retrospective is narrated by Kirsty Young.
Jennifer Saunders, creator and writer, who played Edina said, I loved making Ab Fab but I can't remember a great deal, so much of this retrospective is a revelation to me. Thank you Gold for this kind and helpful programme."
Dame Joanna Lumley, who played Patsy, added, It was a fabulous wander down memory lane by actresses who only have the faintest grip on reality. Really thrilling, and I hope vastly entertaining. I loved every second."
Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out is commissioned for UKTV by Kirsty Hanson, senior commissioning editor, Helen Nightingale, head of factual and factual entertainment, ordered by Gerald Casey, channel director for Gold and Hilary Rosen, director of commissioning. Owen Braben, Jon Plowman and Ben Wicks are executive producers, the director is Simon Loyd, and it was developed by Amy Dallmeyer, Director of Development, Entertainment for Expectation.
Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out will air on Gold at 9pm on 17th October. As an extra treat for fans, the original episodes will air exclusively every night on Gold at 9pm weeknights in October.
For more information, please contact:
Charlotte Scott, Head of Consumer Communications, UKTV
About Gold
Dedicated to celebrating the best of British comedy, Gold is the nations favourite comedy channel. Classic British comedy series loved by all the family sit comfortably alongside new UKTV Original scripted comedies crafted by some of the nations finest comedic minds, such as Dads Army: The Lost Episodes, Blood Actually: A Murder They Hope Mystery, The Cockfields and Sandylands. Meanwhile Golds unscripted series reunite the stars and partnerships of the nations best-loved shows to get to the heart of what makes them so evergreen - from passion projects such as French & Saunders: Funny Women, Billy Connolly Does..., Ricky and Ralfs Very Northern Road Trip and Alison and Larry: Billericay To Barry to the retrospective likes of Blackadder: The Lost Pilot, The Royle Family: Down The Back of the Sofa,Dinnerladies diaries and The Fast Show: Just A Load of Blooming Catchphrases. Gold is the perfect tonic to make you laugh whatever the time of day.
@goldchannel
About UKTV
UKTV has been at the forefront of branded television for over 30 years, entertaining the nation with programmes they love. Its leading brands - U&Dave, U&DRAMA, U&W, U&YESTERDAY, Gold, Alibi and Eden - span comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and drama, and are delivered to UK viewers through free streaming service U, Sky, Virgin Media, NOW, Freeview and Freesat; and to Irish viewers through Sky, Virgin Media, Eir, Vodafone and NOW. Channel & content availability varies by platform. UKTV's content is also available to UK viewers via dedicated FAST channels on Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Freevee, Pluto TV and Virgin Media. UKTV is a significant investor in British creativity and is committed to working with new and established writers, directors and programme-makers. The broadcaster is part of BBC Studios, the UKs most-awarded production company, a world-class distributor with international branded services, and a commercial subsidiary of the worlds leading public service broadcaster, the BBC.
corporate.uktv.co.uk | press.uktv.co.uk | @uktvpress
About Expectation
Expectation launched in February 2017 as a multi-genre, independent production company covering both scripted and non-scripted programming. Led by Peter Fincham and Tim Hincks, Expectation has built an enviable reputation for creating new drama, factual drama, factual, comedy and entertainment programming as well as breaking new and diverse talent and winning multiple awards for its shows. Among these shows are Clarkson's Farm, The Grand Tour and Backstage with Katherine Ryan for Prime Video, The Big Narstie Show (with Dice Productions), The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan (with Momo G), Steph's Packed Lunch (in partnership with Can Can Productions) and I Lite
More from UKTV
29/04/2026
Rhod Gilbert, Harriet Kemsley, Kae Kurd, Sara Pascoe and Vicki Pattison to take part in brand new series on free streaming service U
Free streaming service U i...
22/04/2026
U have unveiled exclusive first-look images for their six-part police thriller Hit Point, starring Nick Blood (Day of the Jackal) and BAFTA nominee Saffron Hock...
22/04/2026
What can I watch on UKTV and stream on U this week?
This week on UKTV and the free streaming service U, viewers can watch a range of new and returning programm...
16/04/2026
Bookish is created, written by and starring Mark Gatiss, with series one available on Sky, Virgin Media and NOW
Praise for series one:
Daily Mail - 5****
The...
10/04/2026
What can I watch on UKTV and stream on U this week?
This week on UKTV and the free streaming service U, viewers can watch a range of new and returning programm...
01/04/2026
UKTV today announces that Jonathan Newman has formally stepped into the role of ...
17/03/2026
UKTV today announces the appointment of Sam Tewungwa as Chief Executive Officer, who will lead the company's next phase of growth.
Tewungwa, currently Mana...
11/03/2026
Following a successful first series, UKTV today announces the commission of two ...
09/03/2026
UKTV has agreed a new partnership deal with Samsung that makes UKTV's free linear channels available to internet-only Samsung TV viewers in the UK for the f...
26/02/2026
What can I watch on UKTV and stream on U this week?
This week's highlights include new episodes of Will and Ralf Should Know Better, The Marlow Murder Club...
24/02/2026
Paul C. Brunson: Red Flag to be produced by FirstLookTV and launch in 2026
UKTV...
19/02/2026
What can I watch on UK TV this week?What can I stream on U this week?
This guide highlights new and returning comedy, a critically acclaimed drama series avai...
13/02/2026
What can I watch on UKTV this week?What can I stream on U this week?
This guide highlights romantic dramas for Valentine's Day, alternative relationship t...
06/02/2026
What can I watch on TV in the UK this week? What can I watch on U&GOLD? What can I stream on U this week?
This week on UKTV, viewers can watch a range of new a...
05/02/2026
BBC Studios and UKTV have appointed Karin Marelle to lead their Global Acquisitions team, overseeing the sourcing of content across BBC Studios' global chan...
03/02/2026
Mel Giedroyc fronts brand new comedy entertainment format
3rd February 2026, London: U and U&Dave is set to launch brand-new escape room comedy entertainment s...
02/02/2026
Ahead of the hotly anticipated return of Bergerac to U and U&DRAMA in the Spring, a teaser has been released to give viewers a glimpse at what's in store in...
29/01/2026
New two-part true crime documentary, OUTBACK TERROR: THE FALCONIO MURDER, aims to shed new light on a case that continues to intrigue on both sides of the world...
26/01/2026
Bookish is created by and stars Mark Gatiss
Images available HERE
Following th...
15/01/2026
Views to free streaming service U grew by 15%, average monthly active users by 23% and registrations by 18%
UKTV's channels achieved record viewing share, ...
06/01/2026
Channel 4 and UKTV are giving viewers even more reasons to stream, with UKTV's U service set to feature thousands of hours of free, unmissable and bingeable...
15/12/2025
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor finds himself the topic of year's cracker jokes
Oasis, David Harbour, Celebrity Traitors and Angela Rayner all feature in this y...
25/11/2025
UKTV has acquired a high-profile slate of US dramas from Paramount Global Conten...
04/11/2025
Damien Moloney as Jim Bergerac
As filming wraps on the highly anticipated second series of Bergerac (6x60'), UKTV today unveils a selection of first look i...
30/10/2025
TIS THE SEASON TO GET PUNNY!
U&GOLD LAUNCHES ITS ANNUAL SEARCH FOR THE UK'S...
23/10/2025
The 90-minute film is produced by Rogan Scotland, part of BAFTA-winning Rogan Pr...
16/10/2025
TV's most charming detective drama * Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investi...
15/10/2025
Sheldon Nichols and Will Trickett to find and prepare more classic cars for budget conscious would-be owners from Wiser Films
UKTV have recommissioned the clas...
14/10/2025
Joe Wilkinson and David Earl will explore their favourite sitcoms together with help from stars such as Ricky Gervais
14th October, London: Comedians, writers,...
13/10/2025
Nick Blood and Saffron Hocking lead casting for Hit Point, brand new original drama series for U and U&Dave
Developed & Produced by Urban Myth Films (a STUDIOC...
09/10/2025
Channel 4 and UKTV announce ground-breaking deal to carry UKTV's U service o...
09/10/2025
U to host Clash of the Comics
First ever UK television screening for sellout live event
9th October 2025, London: Clash of the Comics, the wild, unpredictable...
29/09/2025
(L-R) Cara Horgan as Becks Starling, Samantha Bond as Judith Potts, Natalie Dew ...
12/09/2025
Feature-length retrospective from Studio Crook to air in 2026
Sir David Jason returns to the nation's favourite comedy channel, U&GOLD, for Open All Hours:...
11/09/2025
UKTV's free streaming service U launches on Sky Q
Free streaming service U has launched on Sky Q in the UK, UKTV and Sky confirm today, expanding the footp...
03/09/2025
Bookish is created, written by and starring Mark Gatiss
The Guardian - An arch...
28/08/2025
UKTV has acquired the UK premiere of Art Detectives, the compelling new crime an...
20/08/2025
U&Dave today announces its first ever original drama series, Hit Point (6x60'), which will also be available to stream on U. Written by BAFTA-winner Howard ...
13/08/2025
TV's most likeable proper bloke returns to tackle more demanding and dangerous trades in a new series of Guy Martin: Proper Jobs for U and U&Dave
UKTV is ...
04/08/2025
UKTV has commissioned a new series of Canal Boat Diaries (10x60) for its free streaming service U and leading factual channel U&YESTERDAY, under licence from th...
31/07/2025
Record recommission will take show past 200 episodes and into 2028. Spin-off, Ba...
29/07/2025
Filming is now underway with Damien Molony and wider cast returning to Jersey for Bergerac, written by Toby Whithouse alongside Ashley Sanders, Emilie Robson an...
23/07/2025
UKTV today announces that senior executives Steve North and Hilary Rosen will be handed expanded remits to take on greater responsibility for channels and conte...
15/07/2025
U&GOLD has acquired the broadcast rights for Fawlty Towers: The Play (1x120'). Recorded during the show's run at the West End with its original cast, Fa...
08/07/2025
UKTV today announces that Richard Watsham, Chief Creative Officer at UKTV and Global Director of Acquisitions for BBC Studios/UKTV, has decided to step down fro...
02/07/2025
Brand new factual series follows mechanic and self-taught engineer Dom Chinea as he makes the move of his life to the far west of Cornwall
UKTV today announces...
26/06/2025
UKTV and Talented People are delighted to announce the renewal of their successf...
24/06/2025
The promo for U&alibis brand-new drama, Bookish (6x70) has been released, ahead of the series being available on the specialist crime-drama channel from 16th Ju...
17/06/2025
London - Tuesday 17 June 2025: It is with an incredibly heavy heart that we share the news that Melanie Rumani has passed away after a long battle with cancer. ...
The nation's favourite comedy channel, Gold, is set to take a reflective look at Absolutely Fabulous, one of Britain's most-loved comic creations set in the glamourous world of fashion PR in the 90s, with a brand-new retrospective, Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out (1x 120'). It is produced by Expectation and will air at 9pm on 17th October on Gold.
