French and Saunders

Murder Most Horrid DVD giveaway

2008-03-12T19:06:45Z

Series one of Murder Most Horrid, the dark and inventive crime comedy starring Dawn French was released on bail and on DVD this week (read on to see how you can win a copy). Homicide becomes her in a mix of drama, sit-com and horror genre references. French slips into a different persona in each of six murderous tales:

The Case Of The Missing A traffic cop who is promoted to lead the investigation in what appears to be a straightforward murder case but turns out to be anything but. See clips: 1, 2

The Girl From Ipanema French stars as Brazilian au pair Maria, who while working for a parliamentary candidate and his wife uncovers a heady cocktail of sexual and political intrigue with fatal consequences. See clips: 1, 2

He Died A Death Fading soap star Judy Talent is caught in the mystery when rivalries amongst a group of theatre "luvvies" starring in the whodunnit 'The Catflap' lead to murder. See clips: 1, 2

A Determined Woman The recently made redundant but still ambitious quantum physicist Rita Proops resolving to carry on her research into time machine construction in her garage. See clips: 1, 2

Murder At Tea Time Bunty Breslaw, a children's TV presenter who, insanely jealous of her younger colleague and rival, adopts villainous methods to keep her permanently out of the picture. See clips: 1, 2

Mrs. Hat And Mrs. Red A baffling tale of suburban doppelgangers, luxury bath oils, geraniums and, naturally, murder. See clips: 1, 2

French is joined by gang of guest stars including Timothy Spall, Jane Asher, Jim Broadbent and Kathy Burke.

What's more, we've got five copies of series one to give away, courtesy of the distributors.

~~To enter the draw to win one, just send an email with the subject Murder Most Horrid DVD Giveaway. Your email should include full name and contact address, including postcode.~~

The draw is now closed. Thanks to everyone who entered. Winners will be notified by email.

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Tour kicks off

2008-03-01T21:13:16Z

The French & Saunders: Still Alive tour kicked off on the date that plays hard-to-get, 29th February, in Blackpool.

Touring continues into May at venues around the UK. London dates are still a possibility - after French and Saunders have tested reactions round the country.

Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders have said this will be their last tour of its kind as they call time on their sketch shows in favour of other projects together.

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Dawn French in Lark Rise to Candleford

2008-01-10T21:39:21Z

Dawn French joins the population of the 19th-century market town of Candleford in a new ten-part drama.

The story is recounted by a teenage girl, Laura Timmins, who has left her home in the hamlet of Lark Rise to join the larger town of Candleford.

Among the people living their lives in this countryside chronicle is Caroline Arless (French), a neighbour of Timmins.

Lusty and eccentric, Caroline looks after her four children while her sailor husband is away at sea.

"I wouldn't describe my character as a rebel, more of a bit of a drunk!" says French. "She's quite extreme, in that she drinks too much, laughs too much and sings too much. But she loves her family very much, it's just that she goes over the top sometimes."

Lark Rise to Candleford, Sundays from 13th January 2008, 7.40pm BBC One. Click here for more timings.

Images: BBC

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Freya and Saunders

2008-01-09T09:28:57Z

Mother and daughter Jennifer and Freya Saunders have teamed up and made an appearance in Woman and Home magazine. Together they chat about life at Saunders Towers, parenting, careers and cars.

The article is available online at the Woman and Home website.

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Merry Christmas

2007-12-23T12:43:24Z

Here's a look at how French and Saunders are invading this year's festive TV schedules:

Dawn French's Boys Who Do Comedy Sun 23 December 10.15pm BBC One
Dawn French's More Boys Who Do Comedy click here for various days/times
A Christmas Bucket o' French and Saunders Mon 24 December 10.45pm BBC One
Jam and Jerusalem (new series episodes 1 & 2) Tue 1 January 2008 10.10pm; Fri 4 January 2008 8.30pm BBC One

Have a Happy Christmas and New Year.

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The complete series 1-6 DVDs

2007-12-01T11:15:45Z

For the first time, all six series of French and Saunders are becoming available to buy on DVD. The 6-disc box set puts series one (1987) to series six (2004) in one place. The set is due for release on 10 March 2008.

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French and Saunders tour 2008

2007-12-01T10:47:55Z

French and Saunders are hitting the road again for a national tour, their first since 'Live in 2000'. The shows run from 29 February–5 May 2008, with London dates still to be announced.

Click here to view and buy tickets for the tour.

The pair discussed the tour, their 20-year partnership and their plans for the future on 'Parkinson' in November:

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Vivienne Vyle welcomes you

2007-10-01T08:35:52Z

Daytime television is getting a shot in the arm from the microphone of Vivienne Vyle. She is the ringmaster in the circus of her daytime confessional show, marshalling her guests as they play out their outrageous lives on TV. But the ambitious host has a personal life of her own to deal with.

This new black comedy is written by Jennifer Saunders and Dr Tanya Byron, who met on the set of the French and Saunders 2005 Christmas Special, and also features Miranda Richardson as Vyle's chain-smoking producer. Vyle's is a show which tackles the issues sensationally portrayed by likes of Jerry Springer, Trisha and Jeremy Kyle.

Producer Jo Sargent describes Vyle: "She's quite a vulnerable person really. Behind her public, 'tell it like it is' façade, is an insecure, easily hurt individual. She's beginning to question how much she wants the success. But then her ratings soar, and her ego begins to expand in line with her audience figures."

The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle, Thursday 4 October 9pm, BBC Two (not BBC 2W)

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A Bucket of History

2007-09-23T20:05:09Z

To coincide with A Bucket o' French and Saunders (Fridays BBC One), here is a look back at some classic scenes. So take out your textbooks for some sketch history. (Images: BBC)

1993: the chills of Misery and The Silence of the Lambs.

Becoming Madonna in the 1990s.

Alien 3 as presented by French and Saunders.

From the 1998 Christmas Special, the making of Titanic.

Today: Dawn French is Amy Winehouse in a brand new sketch.

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A Bucket O' French and Saunders

2007-08-30T21:30:09Z

Twenty years of the French and Saunders sketch show are celebrated in a new series starting in September. Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders raid their back catalogue and present favourite sketches and new material.

It's another chance to visit the country home of the Fat Men, watch Britney Spears take on Madonna and no series would be complete without the famed movie pastiches.

Alan Sugar, Simon Cowell and Amy Winehouse are some of the new faces who are tackled in a fresh batch of sketches.

Together the series builds into a six-week compendium of comedy. Take a good look as it may be the last we see of the French and Saunders sketch show as we know it.

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The all-new Red Nose Day total

2007-05-03T21:57:48Z

The Comic Relief team has been busy adding up all this year's donations and has announced that 2007's total is a whopping £63,019,955.

The money will now be put to use helping people in Africa and the UK.

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Celebrity single rolls to chart summit

2007-03-27T09:06:03Z

There are Comic Relief singles at number one and two in the singles chart this week. Peter Kay and Matt Lucas (as Brian Potter and Andy Pipkin) and the Proclaimers are the new chart kings with a new version of (I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles.

The song is based on the 1988 original with the addition of vocals and quotes by Potter and Pipkin, who roll rather than walk the 500 miles.

Sugababes vs Girls Aloud are at number two this week. This chart arrangement mirrors that of 2005's events when Amarillo took over Number One duties from the first Comic Relief single that year, All About You by McFly.

You can find the new Comic Relief singles on CD or by download. iTunes has some special content for Comic Relief including podcasts and celebrity playlists from the likes of Russell Brand, Jimmy Carr, Davina McCall and Richard Curtis.

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Walk This Way to Number One

2007-03-18T18:16:56Z

Sugababes vs Girls Aloud have stepped straight in at the top of the singles chart with Walk This Way.

It is also a landmark success as the tenth number-one Comic Relief single. Profits from the song go to the appeal, but there's a secoond Red Nose Day charity single just round the corner.

After the success of 2005's Amarillo, Peter Kay has masterminded another musical rebound. He's collaborated with The Proclaimers on their 1988 hit (I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles, this time featuring Brian Potter and Andy Pipkin (aka Peter Kay and Matt Lucas from Phoenix Nights and Little Britain).

The music video features a full outfit of celebrity faces including Tess Daly, David Tennant, Louis Walsh and, if you believe the credits, Osama bin Laden and Lord Lucan.

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Total build-up

2007-03-17T02:04:42Z

7.15pm £2,256,037... 8.05pm £7,430,542... 9.05pm £15,139,826... 9.55pm £26,820,554... 11.55pm 34,269,843... 1.35am £38,157,240...

And so the money built up until the summit of the evening when the final total was declared by Russell Brand: £40,236,142. That's up £2.5 million on 2005's on-the-night total.

The amount will rise further once money from public fundraising events is paid in and counted.

During Jonathan Ross's presenting stint, Chris Moyles appeared in person to relay the results of Radio 1's Rallyoke: £597,897. He and fellow Radio 1 DJs Scott Mills and Mark Chapman then donated £2103 beween them to make the total a nice round £600,000.

Moyles returned later to form a Red Nose ratpack with Jimmy Carr and Patrick Kielty giving a not-at-all-bad rendition of My Way.

Meanwhile with its minimum £3 donation per £5 disc, the Little Britain Live DVD has raised £750,000 so far.

Plus, the official Comic Relief single, Walk This Way, is on course to be a big number one in Sunday's chart.

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Tara wins and Dawn French drops in

2007-03-16T20:16:03Z

Tara Palmer-Tomkinson has won Celebrity Fame Academy, beating Tricia Penrose to the title. In just under two weeks of singing, dancing and judging, phone votes and texts raised over £780,000 for Comic Relief.

Meanwhile, Dawn French joined Chris Evans in to the studio to help introduce the final episode of The Vicar of Dibley, made specially for Red Nose Day. She reflected on her thirteen years in the role and revealed she had a quiet weep in the car after filming her final scenes. In the mini-episode, a visit from Sting leads to an unusual offer for the Vicar and a surprise for Sting and wife Trudi Styler.

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