BONKERS: Jennifer Saunders in conversation with Clare Balding

Jennifer Saunders' memoir BONKERS: My Life in Laughs
www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Book/Book...
In an exclusive interview with Clare Balding, comedian, writer and actress Jennifer Saunders shares some of her most entertaining life stories.
Jennifer Saunders' brilliant comic creations have brought joy to millions for three decades. From Comic Strip to Comic Relief, from Bolly-swilling Edina in Absolutely Fabulous to Donna, as played by Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia, her characters are household names.
But it's Jennifer herself who has a place in all our hearts. In this Penguin Live event for her autobiography BONKERS: My Life in Laughs, held in front of a packed-out crowd at the Southbank Centre, Jennifer Saunders opens up to Clare Balding about her childhood and family, her life-changing encounter with a young Dawn French, working with Joanna Lumley on Absolutely Fabulous and seeing Dolly Parton's bosoms.

[@jasoncollins1702]

Jennifer has a natural gift for seeing the absurdity in any situation, which is one thing that makes her such a great comic.

[@ski-retro]

Even an ordinary 1 on 1 interview with Jennifer Saunders is funnier that most stand-up comedy performances. She has such a gift to tell stories which inspired some of her work.

[@simonestreeter1518]

This makes me appreciate Clare Balding; seems she brought out the best in Jennifer Saunders. I've never seen her so relaxed in an interview.

[@paulinejohnsonnqk]

As a Brit who moved to the USA 6 years ago, this is pure Gold. I grew up with French and Saunders and they have greatly influenced me as a writer and performer. Thank you for this fabulous interview!

[@plausible_dinosaur]

A really easy flowing, natural interview, great to watch.

[@555pghbob]

Jennifer is getting more beautiful as the years go by, not to mention her signature comedic style which just shines through even the most mundane of situations. I love her work so much. She is really one of the greats, like Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett.

[@76matthieu]

what about Kathy Burke ;-) she's on of the bests to me

[@555pghbob]

Hmm, I don't recognize her name. I will have to look her up on youtube. Thanks for the info!

[@76matthieu]

Robert Knight she played a part in ab fab, one of Eddi's collegue, and just watch the show "Gimme gimme gimme", one of my favourite ever

[@plumbago]

I agree, Jennifer is gorgeous. She plays men in some of the French and Saunders skits and makes a supremely hot guy.

[@plumbago]

matthieu poupard Magda! synonymous with Amazing!

[@Charlotte_TSilva]

Jennifer Saunders is an awesome lady with a fantastic singing voice. I enjoyed this video.

[@MeeKOfficial]

The "Piggy French" anecdote is just HILARIOUS... Best bit of the whole interview really !!

[@jefsti]

I didn't get it :/

[@titanicsosroblox]

This feels like an actual conversation love it

[@TheConciseStatement]

Sincerely, her rendition of 'Holding Out For a Hero' was fantastic.

[@RetroPinUpRockZ]

YES!

[@hanb902]

i died at “darling, you should’ve made a speech” 😂😂

[@BHAKTIBROPHY]

Jennifer Saunders and her husband Ade (The Young Ones) have filled my life with so much laughter for the past 35 years. Thank you, Penguin Books, for this delightfully warm and funny memoir! Cheers!

[@patrickhicks9880]

The ruby wax show with Joanna Lumley Jennifer talks about is hilarious

[@QANTAS330]

What a lovely/funny lady - just read the book - funny and moving - a great read!!

[@mtnlady4762]

Such a beautiful spirit! Very entertaining interview. Huge fan of Absolutely Fabulous! Did not know we are pink sisters. Wishing Ms. Saunders the best.

[@househeadericmdhousehead9118]

Jennifer brings back physical comedy like no one else.. She's brilliant and loveable.

[@Nannook14]

Aww love Jennifer she is my true heroine!! She gets more beautiful my age and is just a lovely down to earth person xx Always will be my role model x

[@aysada]

So awesome! I just love her

[@survivor648]

Jen is so used to being a part of a team without Dawn or Joanna she was appearing to tag team Clare sh is wonderful as always!

[@downeastxg]

Never a dull or boring moment. Adore her, French and Lumley forever. Hoping the local library has the book on loan.

[@nancyking7739]

What a great interview! Jennifer Sanders is incredible! Great show! Thanks.

[@ciaransammon]

Absolutely Fabulous is the masterpiece. The ultimate.

[@kimstill7611]

I always enjoy seeing people I respect being interviewed by same. Didn't know Jennifer was a horse lover until this. Just another reason for me to respect and admire her. Simply a genius of comedy with a heart…If I need a good heart felt laugh for my psyche, I can always turn to AbFab or anything with French and Saunders. Thanks so much for this download. :)

[@goodgollymisspolly5163]

Bless your heart. I had the same haircut in kindergarten, but mother teased it on top, making The Bubble. I pray for that inner-child.

[@skiddlydongdongdongdang1910]

Shrek 2 brought me here. She has such a gorgeous voice :3

[@kimstill7611]

If you're a little sick, watch "Absolutely Fabulous" or any French & Saunders sketches. I just discovered this stuff in the last couple of years and it makes me laugh so hard. I'm old, but I'm catching up. Laughter is good for the soul.

[@dantean]

Remarkable to hear her say she and Dawn have never had an argument. Creative types tend to be more temperamental than most, and comedy teams SPECIFICALLY have a long, long history of creative differences leading to a lot of bitter backstage drama and very often to breakups. I think Dawn and Jennifer's relationship is not only lovely but in a small percentile.

[@whiteytherat]

Made my night!! Thank you!

[@003SONE]

So great to watch! Thank you for uploading this :)

[@lilylove3946]

Great interview really enjoyed it start to finish

[@AxelSituation]

America loves French and Saunders!

[@mckavitt13]

AxelSituation Everybody does. Nothing special that we do.

[@adamhellerud2743]

American here. I fell in love with AbFab, and I admire Jennifer, and Sandra very much. I love that AbFab does not run 7 years back to back, like most tv shows do. I love that it was a few years, then went away then came back. I think it kept the show relevant, and funny. I think all tv shows should be like that. I am happy i found such funny women abroad because of Jeniffer. I think she is a great role model for women. Funny, smart, driven, perhaps not a planer, but clearly gets things taken care of. I am a Spice Girl fan, and I was pleasantly surprised to see Jennifer, Sandra and company in the Comic Relief video for Who Do You Think You are. Even though AbFab was off during the Spice World domination, I was happy to see all the women supporting each other.,, Baby Lump. ha Girl Power.

[@adamhellerud2743]

I meant Jennifer AND Dawn.

[@ketmaniac]

Adam Hellerud Don't ignore Sandra.

[@adamhellerud2743]

?

[@stephenbanks5952]

​@@adamhellerud2743Why don't you edit the original post and change Sandra for Dawn?

[@Gissedk]

Thanks for the upload! Love it!

[@MrNewmoononmonday]

I am almost done reading this book on my Kindle, love it and loved her Goldie Hawn/India/screenplay fiasco, very funny, made me cringe a little. Excellent book, don't want it to end. ...Thank you for the video, she's so relaxed here...

[@kathrynhobbs8874]

We had the same beret rule..but my hero folded her beret in half then back combed her hair over it,except for a small portion at the back….. she loved it when stopped and accused of non-beret wearing…..but I am! And smirkingly turned around. 😮🤪

[@irishcladdagh3]

Her shows have been life savors for me and her books was INSANE ☺

[@paulinejohnsonnqk]

I have also just ordered the book. Cant wait to read it :-)

[@lynseybeswick1225]

Great interview, the time just flew by. What a glorious woman!

[@davidfryer9359]

At 50:53 , beside the photos of my early modeling years, this "divine" child is the most photogenic on the planet. That was a few moons ago !

[@Pdjohnners]

Brilliant. Totally absorbing

[@rhymeandreasoning]

A HUGE (!) THANK YOU FOR THIS. XX Kirk..Montreal, Canada

[@poplife123]

She's a great story teller .....

[@markdavis4547]

cheers thanks a lot

[@clarecollins2547]

I laughed so much at this!

[@reneessurf]

Great interview :)

[@michaelac162]

I'm getting her book for Christmas!!

[@TheNorma]

I'm looking forwarding to reading it too. Check out my channel and subscribe too.

[@FS-mc3cs]

... and Jennifer freely admits she was over-dubbed in "those" French films.

[@crosscastle100]

Just bought book on Amazon $89,worth it,last of 3 books available

[@TheGuillermo519]

Great interview.

[@idleidazel]

Thx. The egg-story.. loooll ! :-)

[@paulwhitehead2061]

My hero

[@kinkoui]

Self-contented lovely aunts. Very independent, no nonsense, right!

[@melissamaylath2943]

The sound quality is bad. And I have the volume turned up all the way. I'd love to watch it but I'm having a hard time hearing it. I love absolutely fabulous. I've seen just about every episode.

[@barbaraguy3491]

They had the mikes way too far away from their faces. It was indeed disappointing trying to hear, and I have very good hearing.

[@morganfjp]

I agree it is shameful how quiet this recording is. As a studio owner I know how easy it is to just bump the recorded volume up it’s the work of a moment why didn’t they do it? If it had been a TV or film company they would have done it properly. But it’s Penguin, a book company - there you have the reason, I think!

[@sissivdv7759]

GREAT GREAT lady

[@duanecrumpcrump2201]

I love Jennifer Saunders

[@BeasleyStreet]

A natural...

[@larciabella]

Marion Coakes! Won an Olympic Silver medal.

[@dmjsmith100]

Very funny lady:)

[@jw6948]

After watching this interview, do I need to even read the book?!

[@DistantCousin]

I was there! Shame they cut out audience questions - mine was the first!

[@peacockdreams1796]

Did you ask who came up with the idea of the comedy turban? I thought that was a great question!

[@DistantCousin]

Aye, that was me!!! THANKS

[@peacockdreams1796]

DistantCousin:D hehe no problem

[@jleng5498]

DistantCousin What was the answer? :P

[@lolabow5421]

What was her answer?!

[@slh950]

Volume fluctuates so wildly jesus

[@Victoria_2005]

I would have really liked to see/hear Jennifer Saunders answer the audience questions, what a shame!

[@TheNorma]

I agree. Check out my channel and subscribe too.

[@niknoks7638]

🤣👏

[@MrScotmac]

Dawn the writer

[@chrissie1057]

omg! she is describing my school life and miss chambers our awful vice principal....im the same age. school today is very different,....in soooooo many ways. guns? or canes?

[@fool4singing]

Clare Balding styles herself like Suze Orman...

[@mckavitt]

+nasima choudhury Jennifer Saunders a lesbian?!

[@mckavitt]

+nasima choudhury Thanks. I was confused by "two". Suze Orman as well as the lady in pink, Clare.

[@Catalinaobregon]

Tattoos smudge as the skin stretches and ages...you have to redo to keep them sharp.

[@markdavis4547]

9

[@michaeldickens7493]

Lol Dolly who doesn't love her

[@Forgoneconclusion.]

Shes like the Carol Burnette of UK?

[@sexobscura]

thin ankles

[@clarecollins2547]

Not the cancer obviously 😢

[@clarecollins2547]

Jennifer possibly has another comedy partner! Clare Balding!

[@rachellbrown]

M

[@robertbartelmes7623]

So, Lemme Get This Straight, Jennifer ... You were able to Confirm that Dolly Parton Has "Tattoos on Her Tatas" ... Right ?? - Bart

[@Caskader]

Stop saying 'Claire'!

[@sartoresartus]

Slow going.

[@NothingToNoOneInParticular]

Talented but no Victoria Woods. Good book btw.

[@PoltergeistFilm1982]

Oranges and apples. I have sat through full episodes of Victoria Wood on TV and not even smiled once. Dull and pedestrian. Each to their own.

[@chrislewis3335]

Cant compare either

[@phily8093]

Claire Balding is exceedingly rude, and has such bullish overconfidence.