# French & Saunders (1987)

> Comedy duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders write and star in a British sketch series of parodies and character turns.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/854

## Facts

- Seasons: 6
- Episodes: 39
- Episode runtime: 30 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: comedy
- Created by: Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French
- Network: BBC One, BBC Two
- Cast: Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Michelle Collins, David Walliams, Simon Brint, Rowland Rivron, Brian Cox, Peter Wear
- TMDB rating: 7.6/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092355/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: none
- Tone: cheeky, playful, affectionate, absurd, breezy

## Synopsis

French & Saunders (1987-2004) is a British sketch comedy series created by Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French for BBC One and BBC Two. Written by and starring the comic duo themselves, the show runs six seasons and thirty-nine half-hour episodes, each built from a string of self-contained sketches rather than one continuing story. Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders play a shifting gallery of characters, with Simon Brint and Rowland Rivron appearing in many sketches as well, and guest stars such as Brian Cox and Michelle Collins turn up in individual episodes. The engine of each half hour is simple: a parody of a film, a television show, a famous figure or an everyday type, pushed until the joke lands. Shape and scale are that of a classic anthology of sketches, with each episode standing alone and no season arc to track. The tone is affectionate, cheeky and quick, with broad physical comedy and sharp impressions. The duo's partnership gives the show a warm, playful energy that fans of British sketch traditions will recognize. Viewers who enjoy The Fast Show, Little Britain and Smack the Pony will find a similar appetite for character comedy and parody.

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