french and saunders tour

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Roger and Val are in again

Back on radio 2, absolutely fabulous 20th anniversary specials, bank holiday radio special.

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Dawn French ’s sitcom Roger and Val Have Just Got In is back for a new run. Once again we join the couple for the half-hour after they return home, she from her teaching job, he from his work as a botanist.

Since the last series Roger (Alfred Molina) is facing a sexual harassment charge at work and Val is aspiring to make Deputy Head at her school. But a bizarre revelation is set to change everything in their safe, domestic world.

Roger and Val Have Just Got In Wednesday 8 February 2012, 10pm-10.30pm

Posted on Monday, 6 February 2012 • Comments (14)

French and Saunders are back on Radio 2 for more shows over Christmas. Expect a mix of chat, jokes, music and guests, F&S-style. Here’s the show roster:

• Christmas Day 2-4pm — with Hilary Devey and Clare Balding and includes the Queen’s Christmas message
• New Year’s Day 1-3pm — with Sharon Gless and Kirsty Wark
• 2 January 2-4pm — with Michael Palin and Tracey Emin

If you can’t catch the shows live, listen again on BBC iPlayer ( see all ).

Posted on Friday, 23 December 2011 • Comments (4)

This Christmas and New Year sees the return of Absolutely Fabulous , with two new episodes. Jennifer Saunders (Edina Monsoon) filmed with the rest of the original cast in August to mark the show’s 20th anniversary.

Julia Sawlha (Saffy Monsoon), Joanna Lumley (Patsy), June Whitfield (Mother) and Jane Horrocks (Bubble) all return to the show, which is centered on the world of PR.

The audacious antics of Edina and Patsy epitomised Nineties excess and continued on and off till 2004. This Christmas’s two episodes will be shown on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, with a third show for 2012 to coincide with the London Olympics.

Episode one, entitled ‘Identity’, sees a homecoming in the Monsoon household with a not-necessarily-welcome best friend in tow.

Absolutely Fabulous Christmas Day 10.00pm and New Year’s Day 9.40pm, BBC One

Posted on Thursday, 8 December 2011 • Comments (2)

French and Saunders are back for another Bank Holiday special on BBC Radio 2 . This time they are joined by actress of Acorn Antiques and Calendar Girls fame Celia Imrie , plus comedy double act Anna Crilly (Lead Balloon) and Katy Wix (Not Going Out).

Set the dial for BBC Radio 2, Monday 30th May 2011, 12pm

UPDATE! They’re back for an additional show this August Bank Holiday:

• Monday, 29 August 2011, 12pm — with guests Prof Brian Cox and Matt Lucas . ( see all )

They’ll be back on Radio 2 at Christmas.

Posted on Saturday, 21 May 2011 • Comments (8)

Psychoville — part two

The confounding collection of characters is back in Psychoville . The survivors of the explosion at Ravenhill Psychiatric Hospital reunite to bury one of their number, but they remain under surveillance by the mysterious Grace Andrews.

Dawn French returns as the nurse with a special baby, Joy Aston.

Psychoville 2 starts Thursday 5 May 2011, 10pm, BBC Two ( see all )

Posted on Thursday, 5 May 2011 • Comments (5)

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French and Saunders

A Touchstone of British Comedy Heritage.

Establishing Their Legacy (1978–1987)

Triumph and transformation (1987–2005), comedic legacy and recognition, continuing influence (2007–present), conclusion: a cornerstone of british comedy.

• French and Saunders en.wikipedia.org

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French & Saunders developing new sitcom

Thursday 26th August 2021, 3:35pm by Jay Richardson

• French & Saunders are working on their first sitcom together in more than a decade
• Dawn French says that she is also writing a new book and live tour
• She also shared that she conceived a comedy to star her and Jennifer Saunders as Elton John 's "fag hags"

Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders are working on their first sitcom together for more than a decade.

French revealed the as-yet-untitled project in an interview the pair gave to Zoe Ball on her Radio 2 breakfast show this morning, along with a new live tour that she's writing for next year and details of her next book.

The disclosure came as French shared some of her previously rejected sitcom ideas. These include one in which the pair were Elton John 's "fag hags", another in which they were aspiring time travelling spinster sisters who oppose gentrification and a third that she proudly declared anti-feminist when she conceived it.

When Ball asked her if she was writing another book, French, who published her fourth novel, Because Of You , last year, replied: "[Yes but] it won't be a fiction this time. I'm going to write a book which contains lots of letters to various things in my life that I completely adore. Or don't. So I'm in the middle of doing that."

Her last live show, 30 Million Minutes , ran from 2014 to 2016 , and she revealed: "I'm trying to write a tour for next year when theatres are properly open and I can get back out on tour", before adding, "And Jen and I have been talking about a sitcom that we might write together, so there's lots going on."

The last sitcom French & Saunders appeared in together was the women's institute comedy Jam & Jerusalem , which ran for three series on BBC One between 2006 and 2009 . Written by Saunders and Abigail Wilson , the cast included Sue Johnston , Sally Phillips , Joanna Lumley , David Mitchell , Pauline McLynn and Rosie Cavaliero .

However, the last sitcom that the double act wrote together - sharing scripting duties with Ruby Wax - was ITV's Girls On Top . Running for two series in 1985 and 1986 , it starred the trio alongside Tracey Ullman and Joan Greenwood .

More recently, French had a cameo role in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie when it was released in cinemas in 2016 , whilst she and Saunders co-star in Kenneth Branagh 's forthcoming feature film adaptation of Agatha Christie's Death On The Nile . Currently scheduled for a February release, Saunders plays socialite Marie Van Schuyler and French her nurse Miss Bowers, alongside Branagh as Hercule Poirot, with Gal Gadot and Russell Brand also in the cast.

After presenting Funny Women: French & Saunders , a celebration of the funniest women in comedy on Gold last month, the pair were speaking to Ball to promote the second series of their podcast Titting About , available to download from Audible from today .

In the final episode of the latest series, entitled If We Were Still Funny , they discuss their love of sitcom and share some of their ideas from the 1980s that were never commissioned.

Hailing Steptoe & Son , Fawlty Towers , Dad's Army and Motherland , plus US sitcom pioneers Lucille Ball and Mary Tyler Moore, as well as her and Saunders's corseted cleavage in the 1999 BBC One French Revolution sitcom Let Them Eat Cake , French reflected on the importance of her character, the Reverend Geraldine Granger, for The Vicar Of Dibley .

Reading from an old notebook of sitcom ideas, she shared an entry for a six-part anthology series in which they would have written three of the episodes and "invited" Wax, Victoria Wood and Bread creator Carla Lane to write the others. "How dare I?" she confessed.

"Each half-hour is a complete story of its own" she continued. "The common factor with all of them is that they are centred around two female characters, e.g. a mother and daughter, two flatmates. Each story should be like a short film with the emphasis on funny as opposed to feminist."

"Oh my God, that's shameful!" Saunders guffawed. "I have notebooks too full of this crap!"

Another rejected idea proposed a sitcom or sketch "set in Elton John 's house with David Furnish , also featuring George Michael , Boy George and a Christmas tree", noting that they would have referred to John's husband as "Mr David Furniture" as they implored the pop stars to let them be their "fag hags".

Saunders took this opportunity to admit her regret at a cruel line she had uttered to John in character as Edina in Ab Fab: The Movie , after he'd specifically asked her to take it out of the script.

French also recalled another sitcom idea that never saw the light of day, based on her aunts.

Goodness Gracious Great Balls Of Wool would have featured "two fusty old West Country sisters, Maud and Dot, living in a village that's struggling to retain its original character against the onslaught of modern development on its outskirts" she recalled.

"They're both spinsters and have devoted their lives to celebrating Britain's rich tapestry of history by sewing period costumes from every age.

"However, as night falls, they sneak into their basement to work on their major clandestine project: they are crocheting a time machine."

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Red Square & Moscow City Tour

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Description

Highlights:.

• Experience medieval Kitay Gorod (China town).
• Wander picturesque Red Square and Alexander Garden.
• Explore grand Christ the Savior Cathedral on our Red Square tour.
• Breathtaking panoramic views from Patriarch bridge.
• Enjoy a hearty lunch on the large open verandah and marvel at the stunning views of the Kremlin.
• Learn about Russian culture from the local through relaxed cultural discussions.

Tour Itinerary:

Red square:.

Russia and Moscow are synonymous with Red Square and the Kremlin and that's hardly surprising as you'll find these places absolutely stunning!

• - Walk-through the Resurrection Gate and don’t forget to flip a coin so you’ll be sure to come back one day!
• - Visit the world's famous Kazan Cathedral .
• - See the State Department Store (GUM), once the Upper Trading Stalls, which were built over a century ago and still operating!
• - Admire the lovely St. Basil's Cathedral! The French diplomat Marquis de Custine commented that it combined "the scales of a golden fish, the enamelled skin of a serpent, the changeful hues of the lizard, the glossy rose and azure of the pigeon's neck" and wondered at "the men who go to worship God in this box of confectionery work".
• - Walk by Lobnoye Mesto (literally meaning "Execution Place", or "Place of Skulls"), once Ivan the Terrible's stage for religious ceremonies, speeches, and important events.
• - Entering the Alexander Garden , you’ll take in spectacular views of Russian architecture from ancient to Soviet times, as well as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with an eternal flame. Watch Changing of the Guard Ceremony every hour in summer and every half an hour in winter.

Kitai-gorod:

Stroll along medieval Kitai-gorod with its strong ancient Russia feel, known for its bohemian lifestyle, markets and arts.

• - Nikolskaya Street. Here you will find the Russia's first publishing house, the second oldest monastery, and Ferryn Pharmacy, known as the number one pharmacy back in Soviet times and famous for its Empire-style architecture.
• - Ilinka Street. The financial street of the Kitaigorod (China Town) district, where you’ll find the Gostiny Dvor (Merchant’s Yard), which is now a showroom for Ferraris and Maseratis. The street was designed in the 1790s by Catherine the Great.
• - Varvarka street. The oldest street in Moscow, which dates back to the 14th century, and still has remnants of early Muscovite architecture, such as the Old English Court and the Palace of the Romanov’s.
• - Kamergersky Lane. Only a small road of about 250 meters, it is home to some of the oldest artifacts of the city, as each building holds a fascinating story. Some of Russia's most famous writers, poets, and composers from as far back as the Golden Age of Russian culture, have lived or worked on this lane.

Historic City Center

Walk the historical old center of Moscow with its cool local vibe, including the main Tverskaya street , and indulge in desserts in the first grocery “Eliseev's store” , housed in an 18th century neoclassical building, famous for its baroque interior and decoration.

From our tour. Impressions of our American tourist:

At 3:30, as energy flagged, lunch was on the agenda at a Ukrainian restaurant.  Just in time!  We asked our guide to order for us.  We all had the same thing....borscht (the Ukrainian version has beans and more tomatoes than the Russian version, which has more beets and includes beef). 

The special high bread served is called galushki.  Our main course was golubtsy...a dish of minced meat rolled in braised cabbage leaves.  Both dishes called for optional sour cream as a topping....of course, yes, please....I recommend it. 

Full, satisfied, and completely refreshed, it was off to Red Square and St. Basil's and GUM department store.  Red Square is not so named because of the color of the brick walls of the Kremlin.  Rather the word for 'red' and the word for 'beautiful' are similar in pronunciation....and, there you have it. 

As we made the turn by the National Museum in front of which is the mounted sculpture of the "Marshall of Victory," Giorgy Zhukov from WWII and caught our first view of St. Basil's, my friend and I simultaneously emitted "Oooohhhhh!"  There it was....the iconic onion domes of St. Basil's!  Hooray....it was open until 7....we had about 30 minutes and were allowed in, AND we could take photos with no flash. 

Now, I can give you a taste of what we saw in the other cathedrals in Cathedral Square.  What we learned is that St. Vasily and St. Basil are one in the same....Russian/English.  He was a common man who wandered Moscow unclothed and barefoot.  But, all, even Ivan the Terrible, heeded his opinions derived from his visions.  Ivan had this cathedral built over his tomb. 

As we exited and took photos up close of the onion domes, Inna presented us with chocolate (how did she know we were ready for another energy boost, and we each got a big piece of chocolate.  The baby's name pictured on the wrapper of this famous Russian chocolate is Alyonka....the Russian Gerber baby, don't you think? 

One could wear out the credit card in GUM's (capitalized because it is actually a government abbreviation), but the 'kitty' and my credit card stayed in my pocket as we strolled through the glass-topped arcade. 

We then strolled through some of Moscow's lovely pedestrian streets; paused to listen as a wonderful quartet performed Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" in an underground passage to cross the busy street (hooray!....we DID have our 'classical concert' experience after all; a request Alina tried in vain to fill because none was scheduled those days), saw the Bolshoi, which means 'big' (my friend has yet to recover that their performance schedule did not coincide with our cruise), saw the Central Telegraph Building, dating from the 1930's, and made our way to the Ritz-Carlton to see the night view of Moscow from the rooftop bar, called O2. 

There were fleece blankets to wrap yourself in....yes, it got that cold when the sun set.  We each ordered something hot to drink...the ginger, mint, lemon tea served to me in a parfait glass (for 600 rubles...about $9....you pay for the view here!) was delightful and hit the spot perfectly.  It was time to call it a night....

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting city tour, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time.

*This Moscow city tour can be modified to meet your requirements.

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