Absolutely Fabulous (series 1) years before, to try and escape his mother's clutches. Her long-suffering daughter, Saffron "Saffy", whom Edina is reliant upon, is a Sixth form student and remains at home. The series also the includes Edina's sweet-natured-but-slightly-batty mother (June Whitfield), whom Eddy sees as an interfering burden, and Edina's dim-witted assistant Bubble (Jane Horrocks). The series was conceived from the French and Saunders sketch 'Modern Mother and Daughter', originally written by Saunders and Dawn French. Saunders has stated that the character of Edina Monsoon was based upon Lynne Franks, a PR agent whom she had joined on holiday. The first series premiered
Edina Monsoon life is kept in order by her long-suffering daughter, Saffron, who has been caring for her mother ever since she was a child. Jennifer Saunders' real-life friend Lynne Franks is often credited as the inspiration for the character of Edina Monsoon. Like Edina, Franks was a high-powered London businesswoman with her own PR company, two children, an eccentric personality, ostentatious dress sense, and an interest in New Age spirituality and Buddhism. Like Edina, Franks was also notorious for her drug and alcohol use and being a neglectful parent. Franks' son has commented that "Edina is mum. The similarities in the