A comedian who worked on the BBC sitcom Absolutely Fabulous alongside Dame Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders has lifted the lid on her experience.
Helen Lederer appeared as Catriona from 1992 until 2012, but then returned again to appear in the 2016 film.
Speaking to Zingo Bingo, Helen shared what she really thought about Dame Joanna Lumley, as well as giving her verdict about why the show remains so popular more than 30 years later.
She also discussed working with some of Britain’s biggest comedy stars such as Miranda Hart, and revealed one particular TV role she auditioned for that she was gutted not to get.
Speaking to Zingo Bingo, comedian and actress Helen Lederer said:
How did you get the part of Catriona in Absolutely Fabulous?
“Jennifer and Joanna knew a lot of comedians at the beginning, so fellow comedians would be cast. There wasn’t an audition in the traditional sense now. It was just, ‘Oh, we're doing this and here's the script and turn up if you want to.’ People just wanted to be in it because it had become so iconic.
“I was so immersed in being a stand up comedian and writing my material and doing gigs. I had already done a fair amount of TV at that time and I was known on the comedy circuit. Everyone had a great time together on and off set.”
What was your favourite episode to film?
“It was the one in Season 3 where I was offered Bubbles’ (Jane Horrocks) job. There is a lovely bit of improvisation with Jane and myself on the set. Obviously, it was cut. But the live audience got very excited and thrilled. You would hardly have to do anything and they just laughed. It was just madness.
“But anyway somehow the plot ended up that I was given the job but alas, I didn't get Bubble's job and it all resumed as before, but that was a nice little moment for me.”
You’ve worked with Jennifer Saunders on numerous projects. What is she really like when cameras aren’t rolling?
“Jennifer is very good at listening to other people and also doing her own thing because she is a very confident, very sure-footed individual. The scripts reflect that. When you look at the amount of jokes and comedic setups, it’s so rich. Ab Fab was not just a one hit wonder that carried on by accident. It’s real quality.
“Another thing that struck me in rehearsals was that when she and Joanna were together, they would talk as if they were those characters. They got such joy from being those characters and how well they knew each other. If there wasn’t a script, Jennifer would always think of something.”
What was your first impression of Dame Joanna Lumley?
“Joanna is just the most genuinely charming person you could hope to meet. Honestly, really good eye contact. She’s unafraid and is an incredible storyteller.
“She's always been very supportive of me. Joanna is a very special individual, very modest, but absolutely knows what she's doing. You have these two formidable intelligent women, so it was very easy company, but we also knew our place.”
Why do you think Absolutely Fabulous has remained so popular more than 30 years after it first aired?
“It just makes people happy. I met someone once at a juice farm and he said that during one of the hardest times in his life, he was actually watching Ab Fab on TV. That's the power of it.”
If Absolutely Fabulous returned in 2026, what do you think Edina and Patsy would be doing now?
“Oh well, they probably are doing something in tech or a sort of terrible AI, and trying to get in with the big people, but in a sort of morally suspect or corrupt organisation.”
Would Absolutely Fabulous be allowed to be made today? Would there be stricter rules on jokes?
“I think you couldn't use the targets that were originally used as jokes now. The whole style of Ab Fab during that time was on the nose. You entered into this kind of playground of mocking things in society. Now we don't live in those times. The evolution of where we're at now is that certain subjects actually are just avoided.”
Was there ever a role you auditioned for that you were gutted not to get?
“I auditioned for the role of Elizabeth I (Queenie) in Blackadder, and unbeknownst to me, Miranda Richardson also tried for it. She's so brilliant. Ben Elton was always so supportive that he got me seen for that part. But I was not in Blackadder in the end.”
Is there anyone you worked with early in your career who went on to become hugely famous?
“Miranda Hart. I wrote a play in Edinburgh a while ago and it was a TV parody with food on stage. Anyway, Miranda played the floor manager and she had just done a pilot episode just before that. But she was not known. So there's an example of her being in my play and then experiencing a meteoric rise. It was extraordinary.”
What's the biggest misconception people have about working in television?
“I don't know if it's because as a woman, but I think what is interesting is people thinking that if they’ve seen you on TV in a series, that you’re incredibly famous and live a very different life and don’t go shopping.”
You've worked with some of Britain's biggest comedy stars. Who made you laugh the most?
“Victoria Wood. She was a happy-making comedian. It was just her at ease talking about herself and things going wrong. She did it so well because she was a good writer. I enjoy feeling connected to something. I think that the best comedy is what you see relates entirely to your own experience.”
What is the one thing you miss most about working in television during the 1990s?
“This is very important, because you just can only go forward. I do think though that the pace of life now is different. Our tastes are being fed differently. We used to watch static sitcoms, but just the pace of life is different where we get our stimulation.”
You appeared on Celebrity Big Brother - would you ever go back into the house for an All Stars series?
“I had started out fine, and lasted for a fair whack of time. But I think looking back, the claustrophobia and being in a group of people - I think that is actually a really harsh test. People are surrendering themselves to make a TV series and you have to keep hold of your sense of self. It's really hard because it's human instinct to want approval. Even though it’s all just a game and you can be all lofty about it, it’s still an emotional experience.”
Did you keep in contact with any of your former housemates?
“Yes, I did Pointless with Shaun Williamson afterwards, who was on EastEnders. I was lucky to be paired with him. But that was quite funny seeing him again because you go, ‘Oh my God, we've slept in the same room along with at least 6 other people!’”
