A new Dawn for Saunders: French reunites with comedy pal Jennifer as they take on Poldark for their first TV show in 10 years

By Laura Lambert, Tv & Radio Reporter For The Daily Mail

Published: 23:04 GMT, 14 December 2017 | Updated: 01:53 GMT, 15 December 2017

e-mail

View
comments

At first glance, they look like extras taking advantage of a golden opportunity to pose alongside the stars of Poldark.

Look a little closer, and it is in fact Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, dressed in bonnets, grey wigs, spectacles and ragged clothes in the corner of a Cornish pub, all as part of their new show.

On Christmas Day, the comedy double act will reunite for their first TV show in 10 years, featuring around half an hour of new material that covers current TV shows and modern-day issues.

Double take: Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders donned period costumes as they posed with Poldark stars Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson and George Warleggan (Jack Farthing) on the set of their new TV show 300 Years of French And Saunders

One of the more surprising clips features them in eighteenth century attire and discussing Aidan Turner’s chiselled torso, as they pretend to be extras on hit BBC drama Poldark.

Despite looking the part, they will fail to impress production chiefs by speaking too loudly above actors Eleanor Tomlinson and Jack Farthing during filming.

Later, they have a heated discussion with the two stars, who play Demelza Poldark and George Warleggan respectively, about how much Turner’s famous topless scything scene is still mentioned.

The mention of the scene appears to anger Miss Tomlinson and Farthing, who insist that they have done ‘quite a lot of good work since then’ and it shouldn’t continuously be brought up.

Talking point: One of the more surprising clips features them in eighteenth century attire and discussing Aidan Turner’s (pictured) chiselled torso, as they pretend to be extras on hit BBC drama Poldark

The two stars also appear concerned about the level of affection Miss Saunders, 59, is showing towards Turner, who she is said to be ‘a little bit soft about’.

At one point, French and Saunders are heard shouting ‘Aidan, Aidan, Aidan’ and then ‘Poldark, Poldark’ in a bid to get the actor’s attention.

Miss Tomlinson argues: ‘This wouldn’t be allowed if he was a woman…Seriously, though, if you were a man leching over a woman the way you lech over him, I could have you reported and taken off this set.’

During their hotly-anticipated TV reunion, called 300 Years of French and Saunders and airing at 10:35pm on BBC One on Christmas Day, they will also take on other modern-day TV shows like Gogglebox.

They're back: On Christmas Day, the comedy double act will reunite for their first TV show in 10 years, featuring around half an hour of new material that covers current TV shows and modern-day issues. Pictured re-enacting Titanic in a previous show

Popstars: They also made a spoof of the Britney Spears and Madonna video for Me Against The Music in 2003

They will appear as both married couple Mary and Giles and best friends Mary and Marina from the Channel 4 show, but rather than watch new shows they will comment on old clips of their own work.

In addition to new material and jokes about gender fluidity and Tom Hiddleston, the show, titled 300 Years of French and Saunders, will use several pieces of archive footage from the past few decades.

Miss French will also dress up as Wonder Woman and they will return to Prickly Pear Farm, where they have done clips before. However, the BBC is keen to keep other aspects of the show under wraps.

Earlier this year, they reunited for a Comic Relief special, where they did their own version of James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke.

However, millions of people are expected to tune in to see the new footage.

Exciting: In addition to new material and jokes about gender fluidity and Tom Hiddleston, the show, titled 300 Years of French and Saunders, will use several pieces of archive footage from the past few decades