Absolutely Fabulous series 5

The fifth and final series of the British television sitcom Absolutely Fabulous premiered on BBC One on 17 October 2003 and concluded on 24 December 2003, consisting of eight episodes. A Christmas special, "White Box", followed the fifth series and was broadcast in 2004. Though no further series have followed, three specials were broadcast several years later to mark the show's 20th anniversary for 2012.

Main

 * Jennifer Saunders as Edina Monsoon
 * Joanna Lumley as Patsy Stone
 * Julia Sawalha as Saffron Monsoon
 * Jane Horrocks as Bubble / Katy Grin
 * June Whitfield as Mother

Recurring

 * Helen Lederer as Catriona
 * Harriet Thorpe as Fleur
 * Fern Britton as herself
 * Emma Bunton as herself
 * Felix Dexter as John
 * Naoko Mori as Sarah
 * Mo Gaffney as Bo
 * Chris Ryan as Marshall
 * Christopher Malcolm as Justin
 * Simon Brodkin as doctor

Guest

 * Llewella Gideon as tanning beautician
 * Janette Krankie as midwife
 * Kristin Scott Thomas as Plum
 * Mariella Frostrup as herself
 * Minnie Driver as herself
 * Mossie Smith as Flossie
 * Stephen Finegold as policeman
 * Emer O'Connor as policewoman
 * Clarissa Dickson Wright as herself
 * Sergio Priftis as Chicago dancer
 * Todd Talbot as Chicago dancer
 * Simon Breen as Chicago dancer
 * Zak Nemorin as Chicago dancer
 * Richard Roe as Chicago dancer
 * Robert Lindsay as Pete
 * Katie Blake as Booberella actor
 * Sam Spedding as Booberella actor
 * Elton John as himself
 * Charlotte Palmer as zoo keeper
 * Perou as photographer
 * Jean Paul Gaultier as himself
 * Alex Lowe as wood cutter
 * Eleanor Bron as Patsy's mother
 * Kate O'Mara as Jackie
 * Amy Phillips as paramedic
 * Marion Pashley as nurse

"White Box" guest cast

 * Nathan Lane as Kunz
 * Laurie Metcalf as Crystalline
 * Miranda Richardson as Bettina
 * Patrick Barlow as Max
 * Mo Gaffney as Bo
 * Christopher Ryan as Marshall
 * Miranda Hart as Yoko
 * Terence Conran as himself

Award and nominations
Series 5

Television and Radio Industries Club Awards

—Won: TRIC Award for Best TV Comedy Programme

White Box

BAFTA Awards

—Nominated: BAFTA Award for Best Make Up & Hair Design – Christine Cant

Home media
DVD (Region 1)
 * "Series 5" – 13 September 2005
 * As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything" (9-disc set) – 27 May 2008
 * As Part of the "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely All of It!" (10-disc set) - 5 November 2013

DVD (Region 2)
 * "Series 5" – 27 September 2004
 * As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything" (10-disc set) – 15 November 2010
 * As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything - The Definitive Edition" (11-disc set) – 17 March 2014

DVD (Region 4)
 * "Series 5" – 8 April 2004
 * As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything" (9-disc set) – 20 April 2006
 * As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Complete Collection" (10-disc set) – 5 April 2011
 * As Part of the "Absolutely Everything: Definitive Edition" (11-disc set) – 30 April 2014

'White Box special
 * United States
 * "White Box" – 16 October 2007
 * As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything" (9-disc set) – 27 May 2008
 * As Part of the "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely All of It!" (10-disc set) - 5 November 2013
 * United Kingdom
 * As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything" (10-disc set) – 15 November 2010
 * As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything - The Definitive Edition" (11-disc set) – 17 March 2014

Note: "White Box" has never been released in the UK as an individual DVD, but was first released as part of the "Absolutely Everything" collection in 2010


 * Australia
 * "White Box" – 2 November 2005
 * As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything" (9-disc set) – 20 April 2006
 * As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Complete Collection" (10-disc set) – 5 April 2011
 * As Part of the "Absolutely Everything: Definitive Edition" (11-disc set) – 30 April 2014

Other media
A behind-the-scenes special documentary, "The Story Of Absolutely Fabulous", was broadcast on 2 January 2004. The special gives a definitive account of the history of the series.

A Comic Relief special sketch of Absolutely Fabulous was broadcast on 11 March 2005. The story follows Edina and Patsy as they reluctantly accompany Emma Bunton to the taping of Comic Relief at the BBC Television Centre. Inside, a member of the production staff can't find Emma's name on the list of presenters, prompting Edina to suggest they check again under Queen Noor or Lulu. Emma and Edina bicker in a dressing room when Edina insists that the point of Emma's participation should be to gain greater exposure for herself. Edina urges Emma to lobby director and Comic Relief founder Richard Curtis for a role in one of his films. When Richard visits the dressing room to apologise for Emma having been left off the list, Edina and Patsy fail to recognise him and ask him to fetch Richard straightaway. Emma angrily writes a cheque to the charity and storms off. When the production staffer returns to collect Emma (now scheduled to appear after Graham Norton), Edina and Patsy first conceal (in the dressing room) and then loudly acknowledge (on-stage, live, during the Comic Relief special) Emma's departure. Patsy is struck by stage fright while Edina attempts a song. Once Patsy wets herself, both are quickly shooed from the stage by a horrified Graham. Miranda Hart also appears in the sketch as a production staffer.

Future episodes
Following the fifth series and the "White Box" special, no further series were produced. However, in 2011, Saunders wrote three specials that were broadcast to commemorate Absolutely Fabulous' 20th anniversary. The three specials"—"Identity", "Job" and "Olympics"—were broadcast on 25 December 2011, 1 January 2012 and 23 July 2012.