Joanna Lumley on Graham Norton: ‘I told my agent I didn’t want to do Ab Fab’

Co-stars: Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley on the Graham Norton Show
PA Images on behalf of So TV/BBC
Jennifer Ruby24 June 2016

Joanna Lumley has admitted that she didn’t want to do Absolutely Fabulous after the first read-through.

The actress and comedian, who is now known for much-loved character Patsy Stone, told her agent that she wasn’t keen on the project after an ‘awkward’ first meeting with Jennifer Saunders.

Speaking on Friday night’s Graham Norton show, she said: “It was very awkward at the read through. It was just the two of us and she just stared at me.

“I told my agent I didn’t want to do it and she said, ‘It’s just a pilot, just do it.’”

Saunders went on to say that Lumley wasn’t what she had in mind for the role, but that she changed the character after they found her.

“Joanna just wasn’t what I had in mind for Patsy. I saw her as a low-life journalist,” she said.

“But Joanna brought so much more to the role and we had fun inventing the character.”

The stars, who are gearing up for the release of Ab Fab: The Movie, told Norton about convincing Kate Moss to co-star in the film.

Saunders said: “The funny thing was I had sold the idea of the movie to the studio and the BBC and then realised I hadn’t actually asked Kate. Luckily she said yes and was really cool about it.”

Saunders and Lumley are joined on this week’s show by Australian actress Rebel Wilson, who also stars in the film, and rocker Iggy Pop.

Absolutely Fabulous: Evening Standard photo shoot with Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley

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The Graham Norton Show, BBC1, 10.55pm.

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