The history of British comedy is packed full with colourful characters who each had a hand in its evolution. Writer, actress and comedian Helen Lederer followed in the footsteps of many performers of her generation by frequenting The Comedy Store in the early eighties. When discussing this era with anyone who was involved in the Alternative Comedy revolution, it always seems to follow the same narrative with Don Ward helping them to obtain their big break. Yet for Helen, she merely performed there a handful of times and therefore arguably The Comedy Store lacks the same charm as it might for some of her peers. Instead she was bred on a diet of That Was The Week That Was and found a hero in the legendary David Frost and then Monty Python. This sense of anarchy promptly lay the foundations for her life in comedy.
In 1985 Helen secured a role in the ITV sitcom Girls On Top alongside Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Tracey Ullman and Ruby Wax. Produced by former BBC stalwart Paul Jackson, the series featured an all female cast which was radical for the time and set the tone for an influx of female writers and performers hereafter. It was here that Helen met. Harriet Thorpe who was a university friend of Jennifer Saunders and as soon as they met, the pair realised they had chemistry. This was the start of a long and successful union which transcended the screen. Yet unbeknown to both Helen and Harriet, this union had only just begun.
For Helen, all great comedy should reflect a time and the 1980’s was dominated by excess, PR spin, celebrity culture and yuppies with extravagant lifestyles. Harry Enfield’s “Loadsamoney” character perfectly captured the capitalist ideology of Thatcher’s Britain and was a heightened representation of career minded folk at this time. Ironically, despite the ridiculous nature of such a world, it had very rarely been the subject of lampooning from the comedy world. This was all about to change in 1992 when Jennifer Saunders penned a satirical sitcom surrounding the life of the dysfunctional PR agent Edina Monsoon. Loosely inspired by the story of renowned writer and communications strategist Lynne Franks, Absolutely Fabulous held a window to the enigmatic world of spin and created some of the most eccentric characters in sitcom history.
Absolutely Fabulous united the talents of an incredible cast of performers who each had forged careers in different disciplines. Jennifer Saunders had been one of the figureheads of Alternative Comedy alongside Dawn French, Rick Mayall and Adrian Edmondson. Joanna Lumley had enjoyed a stellar career as an actress and model in the 1960’s and 1970’s, best known for her role as Purdey in The Avengers. June Whitfield was one of the legendary figures of British situation comedy and had worked with everyone from Tony Hancock to Ronnie Barker. Jane Horrocks was an extremely versatile actress who had enjoyed success with various West End shows such as Ask For The Moon and Valued Friends. Therefore Absolutely Fabulous was blessed with a stellar cast who each could command an audience individually and this became one of the secrets to its success.
Cast as the gormless, eccentric PR assistant Katrina alongside Harriet Thorpe’s half conscious Fleur, Helen thrived on the opportunity to have the freedom to create a character and be allowed to do her own thing alongside lovely friends. Despite being Jennifer Saunders’ creation, Absolutely Fabulous was treated as an ensemble piece with each character being able to evolve and grow. For an actor, this is incredibly rewarding as it allows you to take ownership of the character you portray. Having known both cast and crew for a long time offered Helen the freedom to experiment with the character of Katrina in a way that would be difficult in any other setting. Working with dear friends was a highlight in a career that has spawned so many.
Her long awaited autobiography Not That I’m Bitter is an honest account of her career as a supporting actress in the comedy industry. In it, she makes the point that despite her illustrious career, she has very rarely made top billing. Instead, Helen has carved out a successful reputation as one of Britain’s most versatile and enduring character actors and her union with the great Harriet Thorpe remains one of the most memorable partnerships in all of sitcom. There is no doubt that Helen is a born entertainer and may she continue to shine for many years to come!
Beyond The Title