Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders proud to have led the way for women in comedy

12 July 2021

Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French are so proud to have been trailblazers for female comedy in the UK.

Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French

The comedy duo launched their TV comedy careers in 1987 with their sketch show 'French and Saunders' and at the time there were only part of a handful of comedic women seen on screens.

The pair - who front new two-hour documentary 'Funny Women' for Gold, in which they talk about their favourite female comedians - now think that it is wonderful to have so many female peers.

In an interview with the Daily Mirror newspaper, Dawn, 63, said: "We could name every single other woman in comedy when we started out, which was about three others.

"And then it became five others, then 12 others – and suddenly now you can’t even name everybody.

“There are so many women now working in comedy, which is great.

“I’m delighted, because how many men would be able to name every single other guy in comedy? They can’t, there’s too many. And they wouldn’t even stop to think about it."

When they started out, Jenifer, 63, admits that she and her friend were competing with men who dressed in drag to take all the best comedy lines for women.

In the joint interview, the 'Absolutely Fabulous' writer said: "You had Alastair Sim playing the headmistress in 'St Trinian’s', Les Dawson being Hylda Baker basically, and even the Monty Pythons had someone being a dolly bird. The men took all the funny parts. I mean, come on.”