Dawn French admits 'humiliating' sketch ended French and Saunders

Virgin Radio

28 Dec 2023, 10:13

Dawn French has admitted an “humiliating” sketch brought her and Jennifer Saunders’ double act to an end.

Speaking in the pair’s Imagine… French and Saunders interview which was broadcast yesterday (27th December), the Vicar of Dibley star explained that her negative experience of one sketch which the pair made led to her deciding she was ready to end her time on the sketch comedy show.

The sketch in question involved Dawn performing alongside the singer Anastacia in 2004. Dressing up to mirror Anastasia in the sketch left Dawn feeling “humiliated” and as if she had lost control about what was funny.

“I looked in the mirror and I thought: ‘Yes, this isn’t it, this isn’t what Anastacia looks like.’ But instead of finding it funny, I just thought: ‘Oh I don’t like it.’ It just felt like I wasn’t in control of the comedy. The joke was on me,” she explained.

After filming, Dawn said: “I got in my car and just wept all the way home. I hated everything about the day and I’m never going to do it again [she thought]. I’m never going to feel humiliated like that again.”

Dawn admitted to this realisation while being interviewed alongside her former comedy partner, who responded to Dawn's story: “I didn’t know this was the reason… I didn’t realise it was so traumatic that you decided to end the whole act.”

French and Saunders ran for six series and several specials on the BBC between the years 1987 and 2005. Since finishing their TV sketch show, the duo have continued making comedy together as well as on their own, but have never returned to making a full sketch show together again.

Imagine… French and Saunders is available to watch on BBC iPlayer now.