FRENCH & SAUNDERS: LIVE @ Slapstick Festival Comedy Legend Awards with Mel Giedroyc

In 2017 Slapstick Festival announced that the latest recipient of the Aardman Slapstick Comedy Legend Award would be Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. Understandably, tickets for the Colston Hall event to honour Dawn and Jennifer sold out in under 3 hours - a record for any Slapstick event.
So it gives us great pleasure to be able to bring the event to KZbin and share it with the many fans who failed to get tickets for the event.
Hosted by Mel Giedroyc and with a surprise visit from the inimitable Dame June Whitfield, the show features an in-depth exploration of French and Saunders career as well as clips* and personal messages from the likes of Richard Curtis, Miranda Hart, Ruth Jones (as Nessa from Gavin and Stacey) Matt Lucas, Joanne Lumley, Griff Rhys Jones, French and Saunders’ house band member Rowland Rivron and Ruby Wax.
*Some of which we've sadly had to remove due to copyright issues.
Warning: contains comedy and swearing.
We hope, as you enjoy this content and the ongoing weekly recorded events, you’ll consider a donation to Slapstick Festival. If you’d like to support us, you can donate to us via PayPal here: www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr...

[@rofeidachegrani4944]

I feel it's kinda late for me to say something about these two ... I'm 24 years old, from Algeria and I've just discovered Jennifer saunders like a week ago and I'm totally obsessed with her ever since... All I'm doing is watching her work which led me to french of course... OMG 🙀🙀🙀🙀🙀🙀 they are legends totally "IN LOVE 💕💕 💕💕💕💕💕💕💕" thank you so much for posting this 🤗

[@SlapstickFestival]

Thank you for the comment! You must check out Absolutely Fabulous and Vicar of Dibley if you haven't already. They are both brilliantly funny shows!

[@rofeidachegrani4944]

@@SlapstickFestival thank you... I'm actually watching ab fab, you are right it's hilarious 😂😂😂

[@amykernan7594]

You’re never too late!!! Love your comment!! This is a Golden panel and they’re all so amazing and since you’re just getting into her, you’re so lucky! You’ve got so much to see and it’s going to fill you up! Cheers from America!! ❤️❤️

[@onyourbike_ldn]

I was so lucky to have grown up and in the UK - you are right they are so fucking funny and original 🇬🇧 ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@janflower4068]

Well then you lucked out and you better indulge the good news is you haven't missed anything you can still see it

[@decks1111]

Oh dear. Indeedy that was me and my bloody phone alarm. To say I felt embarrassed would be an understatement. Loved the night! An incredibly special moment was seeing June make an appearance. What a treat!

[@SlapstickFestival]

It was a lovely evening! Glad you were there for it!

[@lynseybeswick1225]

What a fantastic tribute to these amazing legends of comedy. Mel was an hilarious host... I howled with laughter in so many places. Just so beautiful to watch. Laughter is the very best medicine there is xx

[@winnieskees9622]

I am from the US, and I would watch ANYTHING with Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders ~ ~ and anything by them selves too! Absolutely fabulous!

[@gardenlover9663]

Vicar of Dibley!

[@pennym.8884]

Thank you for posting this on KZbin. This was so much needed, a bunch of belly laughter. Dawn and Jennifer's friendship is empowering. God bless them. It was a huge treat to have Dame June Whitfield.

[@irishcladdagh3]

French & Saunders have been the life saver during this pandemic...THANK GODDESS FOR THESE FABULOUS LADIES AND THEIR GIFT OF COMEDY & THANK GODDESS THAT muhduhnuh NEVER TAINTED THEIR SHOW :)

[@blackburdy5261]

i watch this anytime i need a chuckle. one word, gunt!

[@johnhodgetts6617]

7:07 "Titting About" is what F&S call their Audible podcast. I wonder if Mel was actually the first to say it?

[@celineheraty9896]

Amazing interview and acceptance! Just love how they broke out into a fight at the end. I was not expecting them to fall on the floor some how even though that’s what they always do 😂😂 love it all!

[@SlapstickFestival]

Hahaha - we weren't expecting them to fall on the floor either!

[@trancestc2212]

i have a podium but you dont have a gunt dawn made me cry

[@darkestserenity6775]

absolutely brilliant , grew up with these two making me laugh then they went solo and oh my God , they both made their mark in comedy history thanks for posting , I'm off to watch Ab Fab

[@kitschntiles]

What a treat for French and Saunders fans! Thank you!

[@SlapstickFestival]

Glad that you enjoyed it!

[@patriciaotoole5930]

And american

[@janflower4068]

And this is what I'm talking about these are the kinds of friends I miss

[@sleevedaftersixty4255]

Second time watching this because I love these women. Interesting that Jennifer mentions how kind and generous Dawn is…I noticed that as soon as the two sit down Dawn pours water from her bottle into TWO glasses-hers and Jennifer’s. It really touched my heart.

[@joannehetherington3907]

Same, it’s so sweet. They really love each other

[@eckoschreiber]

Used to rummage through boxes in Amsterdam's second hand shops for VHS tapes of AbFab in my late teenth;o) Love 'em! German female comedy due Missfits and these I grew up on, thx so much! And let's not forget Let them eat cake, the Mirrorball ep, H P and the secret Chamberpot of Azerbaijan... Absolutely Fabulous!;o)

[@smaaj0007]

The Queens of Comedy receiving an accolade from another Queen of Comedy, Dame June Whitfield. All talented women supported by the BBC and worth every penny of the licence fee. Thank you queens! I have grown up with you all in which you have never failed to make me laugh. Thank you & June Whitfield, may her soul rest in peace.

[@SlapstickFestival]

They are great! This was such a wonderful event and we were so lucky to have Dame June Whitfield join us for the celebration!

[@GrafindeKlevemark]

In my mind, you are the best female comedians ever. You have made me laugh as never before. Thank you.

[@harpinpoem]

Oh my very favorite LIVE women! Brilliant slapstick ending, in classic F&S fashion! Thank you Jen and Dawn!

[@ANightworkerslife]

Mel Godoinkadoink is completely nuts and I love it. This interview is total gold!

[@kathleenconway5774]

wonderful tribute to these comic geniuses!

[@simonfea2]

Was 5 years ago now but Dawn looks great, Jennifer always does as usual.

[@amyclarke41]

love this lady

[@NiKOliDANBURSKi]

Pure gold 😊

[@daveh4328]

Two brilliant Women! Not surprisingly receiving this accolade! Looking forward to laughing all along the way!! Bravo bellissimo!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@SlapstickFestival]

This is one of our favourite events!

[@Kikithefilthyrichwitch]

FABULOUS ❤❤❤❤

[@SammyShipp1]

thank you very much for sharing

[@jamessky9155]

''It wasn't like a full parcel'' ... OMG, that made ma laugh! 😆

[@janet7640]

What a treat! And an extra thank you for the vocabulary lesson.

[@CarolPrice4p]

Noticed somebody said something about not growing up. I think that may be one of the main essentials to being comic.

[@vashnanerada8757]

We still don't have a female double act as good as popular as French and Saunders... We had victory wood Julie Walters. Both brilliant...

[@philbecker4676]

Lol, doubble.

[@vashnanerada8757]

@@philbecker4676 never type stoned

[@philbecker4676]

@@vashnanerada8757 Been there, darlin, don't sweat it.

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

It's the numbers - isn't IT ? Very Romantic

[@Moonbeam-dr7zd]

Ha ha, that was my brothers phone that was making that noise, he did take his tablets and had a fab evening.

[@SlapstickFestival]

I bet that makes for a great memory :)

[@KarmasAbutch]

What a treat that ending was 😂😂😂 🎉

[@vashnanerada8757]

Dawn is very generous I spent Xmas with them last year an got lovely gift bag. I got smelly candle an black hoodh with death on nile on the arm. When she didn't have to give me anything.

[@SlapstickFestival]

Sounds like a very nice Christmas!

[@vashnanerada8757]

@@SlapstickFestival it was got some lovely photos an had good time

[@kathleenconway5774]

@@vashnanerada8757 So lucky for you! Great memories to cherish.

[@notMessing]

Legends 🤘

[@Hili24pur]

Love them so much ...Confused was this during the pandemic??? What ???

[@SlapstickFestival]

This event is from our archives and was filmed in 2017. Definitely not during the pandemic.

[@redrumtruecrime]

French and Saunders were the HIGHLIGHT of my teenage years. The school trip sketch with the "miss! Miss! We need to stop the coach for the toilet 🚻 " Then they run behind the coach and spark up! That sketch was exactly how all our school trips went! The second sketch of them riding ponies (Dawn steed was called Peter Pan) the girls had high expectations of their riding capabilities and their ponies were typical riding school plods that ducked their heads down to snatch a morsel of grass (thus yanking their riders from the saddle and very unceremoniously down their necks,) Of course Ab Fab and Vicar of Dibley were just comedy gold, I think Dawn one upped Jennifer on the "guest star" when Johnny Depp turned up at the Vicars door! I Absolutely ❤❤❤ them, they deserve every bit of global recognition for their "titting about with each other" and getting paid whilst doing so. Oh yeah, MADONNA you FKD UP BIGGGGG TIME brushing off these girls INVITATION, cos it'd be the ONLY production that would've got FANTASTIC reviews from the critics!! But no. Silly Madonna went with Wayne's World!! Schwiiing.....Not!

[@zoodle_]

on 57:09 the camera man just gave up😂

[@alexpalma2449]

English humour is just the best !!!

[@vivienmccabe4456]

Great

[@BarrySmith-rt2px]

Love this! I wish they'd given a bit more time to talk about Kirsty MacColl who played songs for a whole series and other episodes.

[@rachelcranmer372]

This is amazing ❤️

[@SlapstickFestival]

It's one of our favourite events!

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

Clips are all goods

[@jaytops]

Have Bitsie and Mitzi made it yet?

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

Have a Nice October

[@Victoria_2005]

😂🤣 The first time I saw French & Saunders, when they first started on TV, I was an instant fan. I miss them, as the best comedy duo, in the 20th century

[@robertbarnier45]

Is it me. I’m struggling to hear these fabulous women

[@Paul_John_Paul]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@gardenlover9663]

Just a light brushing. LOL

[@chris...9497]

Perimenopausal, huh? They're not hot flashes, they're POWER SURGES!

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

It started back in the 16th century with Abby Pierre

[@jla256]

Dawn is the best looking woman ever! If I was straight I'd ask her to marry her ❤❤❤

[@isabelbell559]

Wow I never knew that, and I’m 85 years old ……oh well ……too late now fir that fun

[@nncdrmr]

Love "Vicar of Digby"!!! Dawn French is wonderful! Saw the show when Johnny Depp was on! Have been streaming her with Jennifer Saunders all day! They are truly geniuses!!!

[@misleadingwolf4098]

Good video, but the sound is very bad, had to turn my pc volume up to 100 to hear it properly

[@NikAureli]

and still way too soft

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

I guess, we are!@

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

The Clipper

[@katherenewedic8076]

When properly mic'd and sound mixing, the audience shouldn't be so much louder than the speakers. It would also help to arrange the chairs so that the person in the middle doesn't have to turn their head to such an amount and degree

[@waynetbrown1121]

You'd have noted that Mel moved her chair back so the people at the side could see properly.

[@bruce92106]

This is ridiculous. When I try playing using my fire tablet I get a stupid freeze frame with a little banner below left screen saying it's premier ended 333 days ago or some dumb thing!? But when I play using my smartphone it plays fine??

[@SlapstickFestival]

We are sorry that you have been having issues watching the video. I've tried watching it on a few devices and it seems to be working fine. I'm not sure if there might be a compatibility issue with the Fire tablet and KZbin?

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

Sorry I am only familar with volunteers in France & Italia

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

Elementary Watson: Men have one max 2 brains Women begin with 7

[@zetetick395]

Is there some Dawn French / Morph connection I've never heard about?

[@rabidbigdog]

Same. Really need to hear this.

[@rabidbigdog]

Aardman were sponsors for the chat.

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

There are only one Question at a modern crimescene Who were the Ed-Woman ?

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

Don't forget Tee breaks It could end as an industrial issue

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

Who would ever Voluntary work in Television???

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

Are we in California???

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

October fe ?¿????

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

Facts ?

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

Nothing against guys, they are at least honest about IT!

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

In other words How fish & chips was invented

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

Did you leave your weapons in the hall ???

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

Lord have mersey on people who haven't discovered something called Radio

[@MarcZERO1980]

The audio is crap on this. I have the volume at 100% and can hardly hear it.

[@survivor648]

I like Mel with Sue to bad Sue couldn’t make it.

[@gardenlover9663]

She must have been BAKE!d

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

Operation day out of School

[@carolclague5371]

Yep yep that’s rye ewqeee

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

So what's Volutary Benificiary?? Ok Fine

[@3506Dodge]

Dawn is somehow more 'American' and Jennifer is more traditionally 'British' in their sensibilities. There's a certain earnestness to Dawn that Brits don't usually show. Jennifer never quite sets aside her ironic stance in a British way. I wonder why this difference?

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

Anathonomy 101

[@felicitytoad]

🐵🐵🐵🐵🐵👯🐵🐵🐵🐵

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

Oh it's not business

[@KarmasAbutch]

1:12:47 might I suggest FUPA next time? (fat upper pubic area) 😂

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

Sorry I guess we all have bills to pay

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

What's the price of a mittel lean British Comedian ???

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

Bib, not for UM's

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

When You are storked by British Comedy ladies in Germany. What can you say: they have a nose For something

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

Curtesy of BBC lost overseas

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

If a male over 30 can't be cranky? Is IT worth it ?

[@queerstars1]

Only the chineese were locked down.

[@joannehetherington3907]

This is from 2017

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

Sorry was that a bad German Highway Joke??

[@but_iWantedTo_speakGerman]

I only support men

[@nonenoneonenonenone]

Speak up!

[@user-lu8is5rs3n]

You can tell Jen doesn’t like Mel

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

The impossible mission of explaining brits Cose e una Stronza!!!

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

Dove e gli Stronzi. ??¿¿¿

[@philbecker4676]

Mel is so cringe.