Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders set to reunite for one-off TV special celebrating women in comedy

They’re the comedy duo who first began collaborating over 40 years ago. 

And Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders are set to reunite once more in a one-off TV special celebrating women in comedy. 

Filmed on the set of their classic sketch show, French and Saunders: Funny Women is set to explore and celebrate the unforgettable women through comic history and across the globe. 

The two-hour show will air on UKTV Gold and is said to be ‘a warm, affectionate and illuminating celebration of women in comedy.’

Speaking in a statement, the pair, 63 and 62 respectively, said: ‘Are women funny…? 

‘This is the thorny age-old question we have been chewing over since both of us were two years old and to date, we still have no definitive answer. 

‘So in this programme, we explore fifty thousand or so irrefutable examples to see if we can draw any blatantly predetermined conclusions.’

The documentary programme will see the comedy duo ‘discuss all of the crucial and unforgettable female contributions to the pantheon of comic history across the globe.

‘From the very first trailblazers, to the acts who inspired a young French and Saunders, all the way up to today’s generation of publicly adored and critically lauded stars.’

Gold’s Senior commissioning editor Helen Nightingale said of the show: ‘I’ve always been a huge fan of French and Saunders, and to be able to bring them back together on Gold to celebrate the funny women who inspire them is a dream come true.’ 

Meanwhile, Gold’s channel director Gerald Casey shared: ‘Gold viewers are absolutely passionate about comedy, so a show like this needs to have the right credentials. 

‘And who else on the planet is better placed to make it than two of our all-time comedy greats?’

While Executive producer Glen Middleham remarked it was a ‘total joy’; to listen to Dawn and Jennifer during the making of the show. 

‘It’s a total joy to listen to Dawn and Jennifer discuss their craft and also that of the very many funny women who’ve influenced them’ he gushed.

‘It’s an honour to make what will be a very exciting, engaging and laugh-out-loud programme with two comedy icons.’

Dawn and Jennifer first met in 1978 before going on to become comedy partners in the early 80s.

They began their now iconic French and Saunders sketch show in 1987,  which went on for six series before eventually ending in 2007. 

Known as early trailblazers in the UK’s comedy scene, French and Saunders were well known for their hilarious movie spoofs including Thelma and Louise, Misery and Titanic. 

While they hilariously parodied musical artists such as Madonna, Bananarama and The Corrs. 

French and Saunders: Funny Women is set to air on UKTV Gold later this year.