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",
Jane Thynne "The Write Stuff" on many occasions. Thynne was a member of the judging panel for the Oldie of the Year award in 2010, won by Joanna Lumley, and in 2011, won by Barry Humphries. She was also a judge for the Best Online Only Audio Drama award of the first BBC Audio Drama Awards in 2012, won by Tim Fountain for "Rock". Her first novel, "Patrimony", was published in 1997. This was followed by "The Shell House" (1999), "The Weighing of the Heart" (2010) and "Black Roses" (2013). Jane Thynne Jane Thynne (born 5 April 1961) is a British novelist,