AwardsNews

2009 Television Fellows: French & Saunders

Posted: 19 Jun 2009

Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, acclaimed and influential comedy duo, have received a prestigious BAFTA Fellowship. The honour was given to them at The British Academy Television Awards 2009 on Sunday 26 April.

The multi-award-winning pair were recognised for their outstanding contribution to TV – including long-running BBC sketch show French & Saunders. In the past, the duo have been nominated 12 times between them for hits like The Vicar of Dibley and Absolutely Fabulous.

But, this BAFTA Fellowship marks the end of an era. Their last ever concert and last time performing as a double act was Still Alive, which ran until the end of 2008.

It’s also only the second time that the Academy has presented a Fellowship to a double act. Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise were awarded the honour in 1999.

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Official BAFTA photographer Ellis Parrinder was commissioned to photograph Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders in celebration of their 2009 Academy Fellowship.

Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. A woman with a dark bob style hair and fringe wearing a black dress and black trousers and a woman with shoulder length blonde hair wearing a navy blue dress. They both hold BAFTA masks in front of their faces.
Credit: BAFTA/Ellis Parinder
The BAFTA Television Fellowship 2009 was given to French and Saunders.
Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. A woman with a dark bob style hair and fringe wearing a black dress and black trousers and a woman with shoulder length blonde hair wearing a navy blue dress. They both hold BAFTA masks.
Credit: BAFTA/Ellis Parinder
French and Saunders after receiving the Fellowship Award at the Royal Festival Hall in London.
Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. A woman with a dark bob style hair and fringe wearing a black dress and black trousers and a woman with shoulder length blonde hair wearing a navy blue dress. They both hold BAFTA masks.
Credit: BAFTA/Ellis Parinder
French & Saunders' Fellowship Award is only the second time that the Academy has presented a Fellowship to a double act.

Alternative comedy stars to BBC icons

The pair met in 1978 while studying at the Central School of Speech and Drama. At first they found each other “aloof” but soon started to collaborate on sketches and appeared at influential London Club The Comic Strip in the early 1980s.

To begin with they made a name for themselves in alternative comedy. While performing on TV for the first time came in the form of an appearance on The Comic Strip Presents alongside other rising stars like Adrian Edmondson.

Then in 1987 they found fame with sketch series French & Saunders, which ran for more than six seasons. Starting off as a slow-burn success, it established itself as a fresh and dynamic show brave enough to spoof everything around it. The series is a showcase of the pair’s writing and performing skills and cemented their status as comedy icons.

“[We work well because of] chocolate – and a little bit of trust. In comedy you have to trust the other person won’t laugh at you when you’re not funny.”
Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders

Famous sitcom successes

French and Saunders also achieved phenomenal success individually. Saunders won an Emmy and a BAFTA for writing and performing the part of Edina Monsoon in Absolutely Fabulous. Most recently she also won acclaim for writing and starring in two new sitcoms: Jam and Jerusalem and The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle.

Meanwhile, Dawn French is best-known for her role as the lovable vicar Geraldine Granger in the popular comedy The Vicar of Dibley. She’s also moved into films, voicing the character of Mrs Beaver in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Both performers are firm supporters of Comic Relief. They’ve produced some of its most memorable sketches – like Dawn’s kiss with Hugh Grant and this year’s comic take on Mamma Mia.

What is the BAFTA Fellowship?

Awarded every year by the Academy, the BAFTA Fellowship is the highest accolade given to an individual. It recognises their outstanding and exceptional contribution to film, games or TV. Previous Fellows include Elizabeth Taylor, Stanley Kubrick, Anthony Hopkins, Laurence Olivier and Judi Dench.

For more inspiring stories from the world of film, games and TV explore our BAFTA Award Stories.

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