In this series, Sal’s (Sue Johnston) daughter Tash decides she wants to live as an ‘urban forager’ — living off free food.

Writer Jennifer Saunders says, “Tash’s character was based on the fact that a lot of stuff was coming out in the papers as soon as the credit crunch hit, based around these stories of everyone getting into that whole hippy lifestyle, growing food in gardens and saving odd bits and pieces — so Tash was born from that.”

Meanwhile Caroline, played by Saunders, sees her son sent to fight in Afghanistan.

“One of the episodes is based on the fact that one of her sons is now in the Army and has been sent to Afghanistan. She is completely emotionally uninvolved, and while everyone else is crying she isn’t, explaining that it will be good for him and it will toughen him up.”

And the inspiration for Caroline? “The character was originally based on a sketch that Dawn [French] and I created in which I played Chris Martin’s mother.”

Jam and Jerusalem starts Sunday 9 August 8.00-9.00pm, BBC One (3 episodes; see all)

Psychoville explores the lives of five curious characters — spread around the country and apparently unconnected. One thing unites them; they have each received an anonymous card that warns, “I know what you did…”

Dawn French plays Joy Aston, a desperately misguided midwife with a very odd child. As she and the other characters receive this chilling message, we follow their everyday, strange and scary lives.

Among the other characters are:

• Mr Jelly (Reece Shearsmith) — an embittered hook-handed clown and children’s entertainer. Mr Jelly is tormented by the success of his rival Mr Jolly
• Robert (Jason Tompkins) — a love-struck telekinetic dwarf. Robert is performing in Snow White as Blusher and in love with his panto Snow White
• Debbie/Snow White (Daisy Haggard) — Debbie is beautiful and not very smart
• David Sowerbutts (Steve Pemberton) — a serial-killer-obsessed man-child

A big part of this dark world is the online experience that the show’s creators Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith have written to run in parallel with the show. Each character gets their own website with video, plus extra comedy and details about them. Users can also interact with the mystery blackmailer or blackmail a friend through a viral tie-in with The Graham Norton Show.

Psychoville starts Thursday 18 June 2009 10pm, BBC Two (see all)

The tour will bring together new material with the best F&S characters and sketches from past.

They’ll travel the country on a string of dates from 26 June-29 July 2009 starting in Newcastle, New South Wales and ending in Adelaide, South Australia.

They will be handed the Fellowship of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, a prestigious award that recognises achievement on film and television.

In winning this award, French and Saunders will join the club with fellow comedians such as Morcambe and Wise, but also film legends such as Anthony Hopkins and Ingmar Bergman (spot the connections?).

See the full list of people who have been awarded the Fellowship since its creation in 1971.

The British Academy Television Awards is on Sunday 26 April, 8pm BBC One.

Watch highlights from French and Saunders' version of Mamma Mia here and here. Then check out the making of Mamma Mia.

It's wigs and dungarees all round for their final performance - a parody of the movie musical Mamma Mia. It's all in aid of Comic Relief which helps disadvantaged people in Africa and the UK.

Also featuring in the sketch are Philip Glenister, Sienna Miller, Alan Carr and Matt Lucas. Watch French and Saunders sashay into Red Nose Day on Friday 13 March from 7pm, BBC One.

Photos: Giles Park

French and Saunders: Still Alive travelled the UK in 2008 bringing together characters from throughout their career as well as new sketches. The DVD release was filmed in Cardiff in April.

It is available as a standalone DVD or as a 2-disc box set.

Buy from Amazon.co.uk (sponsored):

• French and Saunders - Still Alive [2008]
• French and Saunders - Still Alive + Live in 2000 2-disc box set

She discusses parenthood, friendship and ageing as well as her new book, Dear Fatty.

Click here to read the interview.

Buy Dear Fatty from Amazon.co.uk (sponsored):

• Dear Fatty - hardcover
• Dear Fatty - audiobook

Waterstone's is hosting the event at its Picadilly store on Wednesday 5 November 2008 at 1pm.

For more details visit Waterstone's events page.

French will be discussing her forthcoming autobiography, Dear Fatty, at her own event on Sunday 19th October. The Literature Festival, one of four Cheltenham Festivals, runs from 10-19 October 2008.

• 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.

Buy from Amazon.co.uk (sponsored):

• Murder Most Horrid: Complete First Series

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.

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

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

• 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.