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",
Joanna Lumley once a regular contributor. She was chosen as the godmother of Princess Cruises' "Sea Princess" and christened the ship on its maiden voyage in 2005. In September 2008, the BBC aired "Joanna Lumley in the Land of the Northern Lights", a documentary about her search to see the Northern Lights in northern Norway. In 2009 she portrayed a rock star, believed to be dead for 35 years, but more predominantly, her twin, in the "Counter Culture Blues" episode of the British television mystery series "Lewis" (known in the U.S. as "Inspector Lewis"). In 2011, Lumley appeared in "Uptown Downstairs Abbey",