Spice Girls' Emma Bunton and Ruby Wax joining Absolutely Fabulous reunion special

Spice Girls star Emma Bunton and comedian Ruby Wax will join a host of stars for the reunion special of hit sitcom Absolutely Fabulous

Spice Girls icon Emma Bunton and comedian Ruby Wax are among the stars joining the reunion special of Absolutely Fabulous.

The stars will join icons Jennifer Saunders and Dame Joanna Lumley in the special reflecting on the legacy of the popular series. The sitcom was created and written by Jennifer, who plays the leading character Edina 'Eddie' Monsoon. Joanna plays alcoholic pal Patsy Stone. Other cast members include Julia Sawalha and Jane Horrocks.

The group will be in the special, with Rev star Tom Hollander, actress Meera Syal, Saltburn director Emerald Fennell and director Richard Curtis speaking on the show. Jennifer, 66, explained of the reunion: "I loved making Ab Fab but I can’t remember a great deal, so much of this retrospective is a revelation to me. Thank you, Gold for this kind and helpful programme.”

Dame Joanna, 78, added: "It was a fabulous wander down memory lane by actresses who only have the faintest grip on reality. Really thrilling, and I hope vastly entertaining. I loved every second.” They will also pay tribute to Dame June Whitfield, who passed away aged 93 in 2018.

Archived items from the show will also be shared with viewers, including incredible outfits, glam looks, and original scripts. Dame Joanna previously discussed whether the sitcom could make a comeback to our screens. While appearing on Loose Women, she was asked about the possible return.

She replied: "Well god, I wish they'd tell me! I don't think it will be, I don't think Jennifer [Saunders] ever wants to write any more Ab Fab. But it never really goes away, the feeling that these characters still exist somewhere. It would be so nice to do something, me and Jennifer are in constant contact and we are half thinking of something, but it won't be Ab Fab the reunion.

"And also I don't think we should do it without June Whitfield... But maybe something, I don't know. never say never." In a different chat, she revealed she had to step in to stop Jennifer from killing off their iconic characters.

Speaking to My Weekly, she shared: "I utterly adore Patsy and the thing is, she can't be destroyed. I hope I'm not saying anything out of turn, but Jennifer said at one time, 'Shall we just kill them off and bury them?'" Joanna's response was swift and decisive. "I wrote back the fastest email return I've ever written.

"I said, 'No, we've promised the world we will never die! And to be honest, if all that vodka and champagne they've necked over the years hasn't done the job, then why on earth would their creator be able to do it?'"

Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out will be released on Gold at 9pm on October 17 and the original episodes will air exclusively every night on Gold at 9pm weeknights this October.

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