Patsy Gets Her Breasts Checked by Saffron | Absolutely Fabulous

After receiving a letter from the health authority, Patsy puts her pride aside and asks Saffron for help.
Season 3 Episode 1.
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[@johnfd0210]

The mother walking by is one of the funniest moments of the series.

[@jacobmorris3664]

I wish they hadn't left out Patsy's cryptic line before Saffy lets her in: "It's not what you think."

[@ulefab7503]

Saffie’s face looking at Pat’s after reading "it’s quite dangerous for a woman of…” 😂😂

[@Kate-fi8oh]

I just love the dynamic between Patsy and Saffy.

[@johnhaxby306]

the look on the moms face thinking she walked in on Patsy and Saffy doing something naughty together is just beyond hysterical.

[@Logick]

you know, as much as Saffy and Patsy hated each other, they also cared about one another. This shows that Patsy knew Saffy was the only one who would be able to help her, and Saffy cared enough to help.

[@philbecker4676]

Right, this is a very noble and feminist "us girls stick together" interpretation but doesn't really match the characters. Patsy just asked Saffy because she only knows two people, Eddy and Saffy, and that day she tried asking Eddy but her mind was elsewhere. And Saffy absolutely does NOT care about Patsy in any meaningful way, she is just fundamentally a good person so would help anyone in need, even if it is a woman who tried to convince her mother to abort her, tied her to a reservation post of a motorway as a child, murdered her kitten, sold her into slavery (are you getting the point that they don't actually care about each other yet? 🤣) If Patsy has a kind thought for anyone apart from Eddy, it's Gran, but even that seems pretty intermittent.

[@andrewwheeler8591]

Genius comedy

[@justschr]

@@philbecker4676It’s not that she only knows two people it’s that the Monsoons are the closest thing to actual family Patsy has.

[@emmakirkwood94]

As truly hilarious as this is I'm willing to bet this was amazing awareness and saved a few lives. How absolutely fabulous is that! ❤️

[@catmom6830]

Amen!

[@panagiotakonstantopoulou962]

Jennifer Saunders had breast cancer around 10-12 years ago. It makes sense, as you say then that she'd want to raise awareness.

[@philbecker4676]

@@panagiotakonstantopoulou962 This was made looooooooong before that.

[@michellephoenix9377]

The bottle cap in the brassiere is underrated.

[@jjranger90]

I thought it was a condom wrapper

[@mitch4527]

I thought it was an edible mushroom

[@philbecker4676]

@@jjranger90 Why would a condom wrapper make a metallic scraping noise and go "ping" when landing on the floor?

[@jjranger90]

@@philbecker4676 oh I don’t know that’s what it looked like before

[@philbecker4676]

@@jjranger90 Fair enough. Who am I to talk? I thought Bubble was called Bubbles from 1992 to about 2018.

[@lonnypaalman3805]

Patsy is so funny, Saffy is so stoic that makes it all work. Loved that show.

[@EricNorton627]

Gran walking past, having a quick glance, and walking away immediately with determination makes an already hilarious scene absolutely genius in its comedy.

[@chrisdooley6468]

Hysterical moment. Grandma’s face 😂

[@MrRickster83]

Chris Dooley it really WASN’T though? June could’ve made a much more hilarious face (like in the hospital scene when Patsy gets a face peel)

[@kaczynskis5721]

@@MrRickster83 On that occasion she actually fainted.

[@stevepafford5501]

“Stop trying to find yourself fascinating," daughter tells mother, neatly foreshadowing the rise of the "me, me, me, look at me!" self-obsession fuelled by the shallowness of social media networks a decade later. Eddy, who's based upon the Jewish fashion PR Lynne Franks, is a wonderful subject for tragedy; and a complex one for comedy. She is incapable of being happy, because she has no core. She is tossed in the wind, clutching at fads: Iso tanks, crystals, bum bags, Buddhism et al. Read more: stevepafford.com/absolutely-fabulous-anniversary-abfab-turns-25/

[@jusssayin480]

You're right Chris. It was a hysterical moment.

[@Holdit66]

@@MrRickster83 Less is more. It was perfect, and consistent with her character.

[@RWHaulbrook]

"the entrance to your womb"

[@malahammer]

Never copped that :)

[@jefferoni1984]

One of my favorite subtle moments. 🤣

[@philbecker4676]

She thought she said room.

[@davidhunt6463]

And the funniest part of this very funny clip is the two second walk on by June Whitfield.

[@gaius_enceladus]

Saffy (Julia Sawalha) was sooooo gorgeous! I love watching the out-takes - she has such a nice laugh!

[@BrianBattles]

She's 51 now

[@asperhes]

@@BrianBattles Please, my day was bad enough already.

[@ModeratelyAmused]

@@asperhes you'd rather she died before 51?

[@normadesmond6017]

I love Joanna Lumley as Patsy..... Abfab is one of the best ever made. They had me in stiches every time!

[@johnkilgallon207]

Smear test.. Yeah. that is Doctor thing!! LMFHO

[@jaex9617]

“No, but you can't miss them.” 😆😆😆😆😆

[@sillygostly]

"And the smear thing, is that a doctor thing, or..." Oh, Patsy.

[@E.JayViera]

Doctor!!

[@Dark_Harmony]

When she flips a bottlecap out of her bra, I'm dying! 😂🤣

[@xxTheRahxx]

@1:40 "You can't miss them." *smack smack*

[@mh12-47]

1:41 "but you cant miss them" 😂😂

[@Argeaux2]

Never had any complaints. (Grins to herself)

[@leelouh]

Okay, I confess. This made me check, and yes, everything was okay. But not everyone is that fortunate, not even all my friends have been that fortunate. So thank you for both the reminder, and more than that, the normalizing of checking.

[@mikeyd946]

Where's the other leg? LOLLLLLLLLL

[@trinab9612]

This is hilarious considering how much they hate each other. And when the grandmother walked……

[@malahammer]

Isn't June Whitfield just marvellous !

[@EphemeralProductions]

Indeed she was. RIP

[@PowerDiva]

Everyone in this show was so great... I really could not imagine anyone else playing any of these roles

[@jackfitzpatrick8173]

"There's no rain on the way"...and then Nan walks by.Funny,funny!!!

[@JavenarchX]

Comedy gold. Nearly every moment is hilarious

[@soundseeker63]

That's quite dangerous in a woman of....... (shocked face!)................. Your sort of age. Class! :-D Genius writing, and genius acting. Wish there were more great comedies like this on TV nowadays instead of all the reality crap they churn out!! These ladies were brilliant!

[@bgzooo]

One of the best scenes ever and when Mrs M happens by 😂😂😂

[@stevepafford5501]

“Stop trying to find yourself fascinating," daughter tells mother, neatly foreshadowing the rise of the "me, me, me, look at me!" self-obsession fuelled by the shallowness of social media networks a decade later. Eddy, who's based upon the Jewish fashion PR Lynne Franks, is a wonderful subject for tragedy; and a complex one for comedy. She is incapable of being happy, because she has no core. She is tossed in the wind, clutching at fads: Iso tanks, crystals, bum bags, Buddhism et al. Read more: stevepafford.com/absolutely-fabulous-anniversary-abfab-turns-25/

[@nigeljames6017]

Steve Pafford Stop repeating your comment !

[@alissoncarvalho2888]

I am from Brazil and i simply adore them ! I have laughed a thousand times over these moments !

[@XX-gy7ue]

THE BEST SHOW EVER MADE

[@toddhall1433]

When she looks at how old she is on the paper, then looks at her 😅

[@XX-gy7ue]

THE BEST TELEVISION SHOW , EVER !!!!

[@glen7228]

God, I always forget just how FN funny that show was. Laughed until my jaws hurt every episode.

[@MrWegosolo]

Rip June!

[@seanpatrickroaney2764]

I liked Patsy's little discreet and tasteful rose tattoo.

[@judistench2167]

She also has one on her ‘Unspeakables’!!! ‘That could be anywhere on her!’ - Saffy 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@WolfieMcMuffin]

Patsy's coat is gorgeous!

[@WilliamKing-hf8lc]

Hahaha, Ahhh man I had a great laugh at this. Such a great show!

[@kentGrey]

2:17 Honestly, Gran's reaction is the ONLY appropriate reaction when one comes across something like that. "Just walk away Renee!"

[@harrylime8077]

Ten years ago I applied to the NHS for a job as the official breast checker, I still waiting for an interview.

[@mollygiovanna1095]

There’s no rain on the way…. Nice they share a laugh!

[@alanwisdom7777]

I never had any complaints, 😆😆🤣 saffy she just found out patsy's real age, a secret better kept than the treasures of ancient Egypt 🤣🤣 but Patsy can't read ? 😆 how she did at the magazine during all these years? 😆

[@kaczynskis5721]

Saffy's reaction suggested Patsy was born in the shockingly distant past - late Victorian?

[@sexobscura]

@@kaczynskis5721 she *IS* Queen Victoria herself

[@SpiritAnimalVSOP]

What secret? She's 39.

[@alanwisdom7777]

@@SpiritAnimalVSOP I forgot 😆😆😆

[@soundseeker63]

@@SpiritAnimalVSOP You realise the "39" is meant to be a sarcastic joke, right? It's one of the main running themes of the show, that both women are clinging desperately to their rapidly fading youth and trying to prove they are still hip and happening when they are so clearly NOT in their 30s/40s anymore! :-D

[@rupert72]

A fantastic comedy,very funny,but this clip does make a serious point aswell as being funny...

[@berlebauroth2266]

9

[@franceleeparis37]

How to do woman humour without getting smutty or sleezy.... brilliant..😂😂

[@kellybrown7671]

I just love how these two really do love one another. HAHAHAAAAAA...

[@rayoflight6505]

I just rewatched Pride and Prejudice and it's weird seeing Julia as Saffy after watching her as Lydia Bennet 😂 Saffy is practically Mary Bennet whom Lydia couldn't stand lol

[@lynnhathaway3755]

She also appeared in a few episodes of Horatio Hornblower. Lucky girl. Ioan Gruffudd's was irresistible.

[@cine.musique]

Joanna is a national treasure

[@donkinzett3961]

My god where has all our comedy gone,how would you keep a straight face doing a skit like that

[@KaniToken]

god i love her

[@fishyc150]

Saffy is lovely :-)

[@csmith5420]

What does it mean when Saffy says, “I don’t think there’s any rain on the way,”?

[@Sooner757]

It's a joke about various folkloric means of foretelling rain.

[@jefferoni1984]

I always thought it was just an attempt at small talk to acknowledge the awkwardness.

[@Sooner757]

@@jefferoni1984 It's that as well.

[@dencur4176]

i can watch this several times a day! one of the funniest scenes of the series! that and either of the 2 times they have Patsy eat actual food!

[@tgpok4r]

the look on her face is priceless yes fantastic show , could not be done today a sad world we live in now

[@joannewinter7879]

Laugh non stop 💜😘🥳

[@ericahall1781]

And the smear thing? Doctor!

[@lookingupwithwonder]

Joanna Lumley is so fucking hilarious 😂 im cryin with laughter and waking my kids lol

[@michaelnaisbitt1639]

And this other thing is that a doctor thing. Yes yes A doctor thing. That girls face ha ha ha

[@kaczynskis5721]

That was like "Blazing Saddles" in which the Waco Kid says he likes playing chess and screwing. The black sheriff hastily says, "Let's play chess."

[@wonderboy76]

June Whitfield walking past the door is just superb.

[@chrspappas3612]

"A.F., is still one of my Favorites"... Are You Being Served, Benny Hill, Rising Damp, David Allen, (Father Ted), Keeping Up Appearances, off the top of me head love...

[@Endlesshadowsxoxo]

Yeah...right, right.

[@jennifervegacobian3822]

Right cheers thanks a lot!

[@Argeaux2]

Patsy says this quite often, but the range of things she has this same reaction to is astounding.

[@readinswithtracey]

Hilarious 👌👌😂

[@GUNNERSIGHTZEROED]

Ab Fab being Ab Fab!

[@strafrag1]

Fab series.

[@seanmacdonald3663]

Classic scene 🎬

[@thechanneloffun3760]

Grans face is hilarious 😁 yes ok that’s fine where’s the other leg what’s that mean ok where’s the bathroom I hate u I hate u back thanks don’t tell anyone u monster I hate u to thanks bye, fun scene 🤓🤪🤯

[@joelstrickland9160]

This is a very funny sit com I used to watch this on the BBC.

[@MrTwotimess]

I miss this show!

[@maryannhope8276]

Still lmaooo 😂

[@paulseale8409]

I thought Patsy came out of her coffin when the moon was full?

[@agalgonzalez]

Joanna Lumley's best lifetime role was as Patsy.

[@maryannhope8276]

Lmaooo 😂

[@MrRickster83]

What did Saffy mean as she lets her in.. “don’t try anything”? Did she think she would rob her or something?

[@evegibney2064]

Or try hurt her. She burned her with a cigarette, paralysed her arm with Paralox and set her friend's pigtails on fire!

[@bustedfender]

The excellent writers just told you all about the mistrust and antipathy in their relationship with just three words.

[@evegibney2064]

@Jack Cade AND she had to haggle them UP! lol you'd certainly never turn your back on Patsy.

[@triumphmanful]

She thought she was gay and would try a move on her, fools !

[@wickedwitchoftheeast88]

@@evegibney2064 don't forget Patsy also did something to Saffy's kitten as well

[@top40researcher31]

i remembered this episode

[@dave-d-grunt]

That was funny

[@Hannari-xt6nr]

- I know you've resented me since the day i was born - BEFORE !

[@andrewwheeler8591]

Comic genius 😅

[@Rasfa]

Cheers, thanksalot.

[@markroffe3967]

😂

[@paulseale8409]

Judging by the facial expressions this is not what either wants to do.

[@elifoust7664]

Bond girl

[@PhoenixFlamez07]

i think in her own way Patsy did care for Saffy. she just didnt want to show it

[@philbecker4676]

No she didn't.

[@rottierumbles9451]

Patsy hated Saffy , she asked her for help because she knows Saffy won't say anything and that she would help because she's a good person, nothing more.

[@ashtonalsudirri8361]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@juandejesus7232]

Despite there differences and years of fights. They care for each other ...patsy is like a second mother

[@judistench2167]

More like Saffy is the parent Patsy always needed…😂😂😂

[@philbecker4676]

No, they definitely do NOT care for each other. Saffy is a fundamentally good person so she would help anyone if they were in need, but Patsy has (by her own admission) hated Saffy since before she was born, and Saffy is extremely traumatised by her life with Patsy. We don't need this "Disney revisionist female empowerment sisterhood" bollocks in Ab Fab, they hate each other and always will 🤣

[@michael65]

@@philbecker4676 Very true, every word. Who could forget Patsy selling Saffy off in Marrakech? And at least 2 deliberate cigarette burns I can remember. Patsy despised her.

[@philbecker4676]

@@michael65 Or how she physically recoils at the sight of her. Or tells her to her face she tried to convince Eddy to abort her. Or scoffs in her face when she starts to cry. I really don't understand how the original commenter arrived at the conclusion Patsy is a "second mother" 😅 Even Edina was barely a mother, Gran did all the mothering.

[@paulm2467]

One of the standing jokes in the series is that Saffy is the mother figure and Edina and Patsy behave like stroppy teenagers.

[@sexobscura]

*Saffy enjoyed every second of that 'test'*

[@kaitlynfoster9317]

Although I was born a year after the show aired, I’ve been watching Ab Fab since I was in kindergarten since my mother would have it on. I remember always watching it thinking deep down these two had a ‘will they-won’t they’ quality. Partly because Eddy always seemed convinced Saffy was a repressed Lesbian and there’s references in the show of Patsy having slept with women (a lot of them being at orgies). Whenever I’ve done a rewatch, I find myself convinced over and over that their mutual digust (especially sometimes just physically) is an overcompensation. I think these are two characters who desperately want the others’ validation, and this scene proves when they feel no one else is watching, they can kind of have an authentic relationship with each other.

[@sexobscura]

@@kaitlynfoster9317 💯

[@salviaofficinalis02]

check check check

[@kimberlyortman5368]

😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣😅😅😅

[@grahamhawthorn7177]

How many Takes I wonder.

[@kbc163]

I would never have been able to keep a straight face on this show. I applaud their professionalism. 😄

[@desilu6657]

Oh, Gran...

[@miguelcastaneda7236]

hey be glad to.lend a hand

[@tomquimby6432]

Does this mean that Patsy and Saffy are in a relationship now. After all Saffy did fondle Patsy.

[@MIS315]

What year was this episode

[@davidpar2]

1993 or 1994

[@Seriousgreeen]

how old is Patsy supposed to be? what age would make Saffron shocked? 70?

[@waxestlowa732r6]

!1:55

[@demetriuscolburn252]

Just finding this show... why is Patsy randomly evil? It's so funny coming outta nowhere

[@EricNorton627]

Patsy does evil things, but I never thought she's an evil person. She's vain, self-centered, largely apathetic, and she's had a lot of pain in her life. But she never deliberately hurts people (which she can do quite effectively) unless someone goes out of their way to hurt her first, or hurt Eddie, or, on one occasion, even hurt Saffy.

[@philbecker4676]

@@EricNorton627 Yep, like most "evil" people she's actually just deeply unhappy and damaged.

[@cateliper3588]

What is the rain joke about ?

[@davidpar2]

cateliper “trying to change the subject/focus”

[@eamongilligan3262]

She's not changing the subject, she's trying to lighten the mood by referring to the myth that feeling an animal's body parts can predict the weather.

[@davidpar2]

Eamon Gilligan I’ve heard of one’s own joints being able to predict changes in weather, which is true. Never heard of someone feeling somebody else’s body parts to predict it

[@eamongilligan3262]

@@davidpar2 Yeah I think it's like an old idea that a farmer could tell the weather from a cow's udder type thing 😂

[@davidpar2]

Eamon Gilligan interesting, first time hearing of that

[@amyclarke41]

ok

[@deegreeeen8612]

Money for old rope box.

[@vipapartwro]

Where is the other leg?

[@jimnewman3569]

Our human ancestors fascinate me. I've heard for years that most of us have two percent or so neanderthal DNA. I d Recently read that it's not the same two percent. Each person has a different two percent. The total neanderthal DNA in modern humans is about thirty percent. If that's true, it's very exciting.