French and Saunders broadcast on 9 March 1987 on BBC Two, with the first series consisting of six episodes. With its popularity and high ratings, a second series commenced on 4 March 1988, followed by a Christmas special in late 1988. The third, fourth and fifth series', which broadcast between 1990 and 1996, and all consisting each of seven episodes, relied heavily on movie parodies, and some music parodies, alongside their own material such as the sketch "Modern Day Mother and Daughter" which spawned Saunders' popular sitcom "Absolutely Fabulous" in 1992. Classic movies parodied include "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?", "The Exorcist",
Sykes and a... 7 and 8 are missing from the BBC Archives. Episodes 3, 5 and 7 are missing from the BBC Archives. Episodes 1, 3 and 4 are missing from the BBC Archives. Episodes 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 are missing from the BBC Archives. Sykes and a... Sykes and a... is a black-and-white British sitcom starring Eric Sykes and Hattie Jacques that aired on BBC 1 from 1960 to 1965. It was written by Eric Sykes, Johnny Speight, John Antrobus and Spike Milligan. "Sykes and a..." was the first television series to feature both Sykes and Jacques, who later starred