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",
Julia Sawalha Daylights", while her sister Nadia starred in the soap "EastEnders" and is now a television presenter and chat show host with whom she has appeared on "Lily Savage's Blankety Blank". Sawalha made her debut in the 1982 BBC miniseries "Fame Is the Spur" and in 1988, played a small role in "Inspector Morse" on the episode "Last Seen Wearing". She first gained attention for her starring role in the Bafta award-winning ITV teenage comedy-drama "Press Gang", which ran from 1989 to 1993. In 1992 she starred in episode "Parade" (S2 E4) of "Bottom" as Veronica Head, a beautiful young barmaid