‘Absolutely Fabulous’: Oh Sweetie Darling, Just Look Who’s Returning!

Absolutely Fabulous is back, complete with a new and returning cast that reads like a guest list of Eddie’s dreams. The big-screen treatment of what might be one of the U.K.’s most enduring Britcom successes is generating buzz on both sides of the Atlantic.

A large part of that excitement is the chance to spend more time with the superannuated slacker-fab duo, Patsy and Eddie, which is as it should be. There’s also excited chatter in the celeb-sphere about who is returning to Absolutely Fabulous.

More names, names, names… SIXTY names to be exact! https://t.co/oN6oly1QiG via @BuzzfeedUK #AbFabMovie

— Ab Fab The Movie (@AbFabMovie) April 28, 2016

AbFab favorites coming back on board include Eddie’s daughter, Saffron. Julia Sawalha played Saffron in the series and will return to step into her comfortable shoes and frumpy jumpers for the movie. As fabulous as Sawalha is as Saffron, she was not the original plain Jane offspring to Edina’s fashion victim Mum.

Edina and Saffron started out as characters on French and Saunders, Jennifer Saunder’s sketch comedy show with fellow writer and actress, Dawn French. It was French who first played put-upon Saffron. Here’s a look at the future Vicar of Dibley as Saffron Monsoon.

Another returning Monsoon family member is Edina’s mother, played by June Whitfield.

Sonia Edwards reported for Bust that the returning cast includes many of the celebrities who made cameo appearances in the original series. Elton John, Helena Bonham Carter, Naomi Campbell, and Kate Moss are coming back for more fawning from Edina and her assistants.

Of course, a reunion of the Absolutely Fabulous cast would not be complete without Edina’s assistant. BBC America reports that Jane Horrocks will return to play Bubble. Has Bubble changed much over the years? We’ll just have to wait and see.

The familiar faces and situations in the world of Absolutely Fabulous and what Jennifer Saunders promises to be a sharp, funny script with contributions from former comedy partner Dawn French are reason enough for fans who have followed the show to be positively giddy.

For newer fans and followers of celebrity coverage, the A-List nature of the cast is making news among outlets that usually follow the glitterati in their natural habitat. Harper’s Bazaar gave an exhaustive rundown of the British and American famous faces populating the Absolutely Fabulous landscape: AAbbey Clancy, Alesha Dixon, Alex Jones, Alexa Chung, Alice Dellal, Anya Hindmarch, Barry Humphries aka Dame Edna Everage, Beattie Edmondson, Bip Ling, Brix Smith-Start, Bruno Tonioli, Camilla Rutherford, Chris Colfer, Christopher Biggins, Daisy Lowe, Daniel Lismore, Dawn French, Ella Eyre, Foxes, Graham Norton, Giles Deacon, Gwendoline Christie, Jade Parfitt, Jamie Laing, Jean Paul Gaultier, Janette Tough, Jeremy Paxman, Jerry Hall, Joan Collins, Jodie Harsh, Jourdan Dunn, Judith Chalmers, Kate Moss, Kathy Lette, Kelly Hoppen, Kirsty Wark, La Roux, La Voix, Lara Stone, Lily Cole, Marcia Warren, Mark Gatiss, Miquita Oliver, Nick Grimshaw, Nick Mohammed, Orla Guerin, Ozwald Boateng, Pam Hogg, Perez Hilton, Poppy Delevingne, Richard Arnold, Robert Webb, Rylan Clark, Sadie Frost, Sophie Raworth, Stella McCartney, Suki Waterhouse, Suzy Menkes, Tinie Tempah, and Wanda Ventham.

Celebrities with speaking roles either as their own fabulous selves or those darling little people who make it all happen include former (and possibly current) Spice Girl Emma Bunton, legendary songbird and on and off client Lulu, mad man Jon Hamm, and gleeful warbler Chris Colfer.

While much of the plot has been kept secret, a few details have emerged. According to a report in the Radio Times, an official statement from the production company revealed a peek at what’s in store.

“Edina and Patsy are still oozing glitz and glamour, living the high life they are accustomed to; shopping, drinking and clubbing their way around London’s trendiest hotspots. Blamed for a major incident at an uber fashionable launch party, they become entangled in a media storm and are relentlessly pursued by the paparazzi. Fleeing penniless to the glamorous playground of the super-rich, the French Riviera, they hatch a plan to make their escape permanent and live the high life forever more!”

Radio Times reporter Ben Dowell confirmed that fans who have been clamoring for more delightfully wretched excess from Patsy and Edina will not have too long to wait. Filming is complete. The official release date for Absolutely Fabulous is July 1 of this year.

So break out the Cristal and some lovely nibblies for those of you who still, well, eat. The return of the women of Absolutely Fabulous is a cause for celebration, Sweetie Darling, you won’t want to miss it.

[Photo by Gabe Palacio/Getty Images]