June Whitfield (1974–78) and "Terry and June" (1979–87). Since 1992, Whitfield has appeared in Jennifer Saunders's sitcom "Absolutely Fabulous" playing Edina Monsoon's mother. She played a regular character in "Last of the Summer Wine" as well as a recurring character in "The Green Green Grass". She also played Agatha Christie's Miss Marple on BBC Radio 4 between 1993 and 2001. Whitfield was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1985 Birthday Honours, Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1998 Birthday Honours, and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE)
Jennifer Saunders Fabulous". The comedy was, in fact, based largely on a fourteen-minute "French & Saunders" sketch called "Modern Mother and Daughter". Saunders and French were going to star in the comedy together, but just as the studio had been booked, French received a long-awaited phone call confirming that an adoption agency had a new baby for her to adopt. Saunders proceeded to star in the comedy. The series, which she wrote and starred in as the irresponsible fashion PR agent Edina Monsoon alongside Joanna Lumley, who played Patsy Stone, brought her international acclaim and attention. The show ran for five full