'AbFab' Ladies Reteam for New Series
Show will air on BBC America next year

April 7 2006

Joanna Lumley is reuniting with her "Absolutely Fabulous" co-star, Jennifer Saunders, but this time she won't be playing the Patsy.

Instead, the two, along with Saunders' pre-"AbFab" partner-in-comedy Dawn French, will star in a new series being co-produced by BBC America and its big brother across the pond. The show is scheduled to air sometime next year.

The yet-untitled series, created by Saunders, will run seven episodes. It focuses on the members of a women's club in a small English town. A newly widowed woman (Sue Johnston, "Waking the Dead") joins the club, which purports to be dedicated to truth and fellowship, but finds its members also rather enjoy a bit of good gossip.

In addition to Johnston, Saunders, French and Lumley, the show will also feature Pauline McLynn ("Angela's Ashes," "Father Ted"), David Mitchell ("Peep Show") and Sally Phillips ("Smack the Pony," "Bridget Jones's Diary").

"Absolutely Fabulous" first ran on the BBC for three seasons from 1992-95 and made its way to this country a few years later. Two more seasons and several specials have followed in the past few years.

A premiere date for the new show hasn't been determined yet.