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MNHQ

Jennifer Saunders: Live webchat, Thursday 10 October, 12.15-1.15pm

173 replies

RachelMumsnet · 07/10/2013 17:30

Jennifer Saunders is joining us this Thursday (10 October) between 12.15 and 1.15 pm to tell us about her memoir: Bonkers, My Life in Laughs.

Jennifer has been making us laugh since the early 80's; from Comic Strip through to French and Saunders, to the universally acclaimed Ab Fab with plenty of hilarious sketches thrown in (remember Comic Relief's take on ?). We're delighted that we've been allowed access to some of the fabulous pics from the book which you can now see in our Gallery: The Many Faces of Jennifer Saunders.

Join us at 12.15 on Thursday to speak to Jennifer LIVE or if you're unable to make that time, post a question to her in advance on this thread.

OP posts:
tripethelightfantastic · 10/10/2013 12:20

ahh, x post with surreygirl!

Halexlo · 10/10/2013 12:21

Hello Jennifer!!!

I'm such a big fan. Your shows were always on in the house growing up (my mum is a fan too) I loved Ab Fab. What was your inspiration for Eddy Monsoon? And the plot in general? do you know any similar characters in real life!

xx

JenniferSaunders · 10/10/2013 12:23

@alicethecactus

Hi Jennifer!

What's the worst, and the best bit of parenthood? Thanks!

Well I have to say I enjoyed my kids at all ages and I still enjoy them now. The best moments are when everyone's round the table having a meal and the girls take it upon themselves to entertain us with impressions and stories and we're all laughing and having fun. It's one of the best feelings. One of the worst things is when your children start treating you like a child.

Angeleno · 10/10/2013 12:25

Hiya Jennifer,

In the new Bridget Jones book, Bridget wonders if the best way to raise normal, good children is to be as badly behaved as possible as a parent, and references Saffy in Absolutely Fabulous! Would you agree?

xx

JenniferSaunders · 10/10/2013 12:25

@Halexlo

Hello Jennifer!!!

I'm such a big fan. Your shows were always on in the house growing up (my mum is a fan too) I loved Ab Fab. What was your inspiration for Eddy Monsoon? And the plot in general? do you know any similar characters in real life!

xx

No, I thank god I don't know any similar characters in real life. I think they'd be a nightmare to know! Eddy was inspired by various people I'd known, one who was in PR, one who had a very straight daughter but who was herself crazy, the rest of it comes from imagination and bits of me. Sometimes Eddy's a great way of getting away with saying things I wouldn't say myself, and in my book I have a few rants and say them as myself and take the flack.

Sparklingbrook · 10/10/2013 12:25

Hello.How about getting Ade to do Strictly? He would be fab-and he would get my vote. Smile

JenniferSaunders · 10/10/2013 12:26

@nowit

Hi Jennifer

Absolutely love you. French and Saunders and Ab Fab are my comfort blankets. Thank you.

I have a mini comedian in the making, she is but four but everyone she meets says she should be on the telly. She likes to do voices and has done from a young age - she is very funny and does an excellent Daddy Chubby in a northern accent.

How can I encourage her without turning her into a madam? Confidence is not an issue and i'm all for letting her be a child but her natural charisma is commented on a lot. Any advice?

I think that the way to encourage her is to keep being a good audience, which you obviously are being. Don't try and get her to repeat really funny things too often, let her just enjoy the reaction she's getting and she'll work it out for herself.

JenniferSaunders · 10/10/2013 12:27

@Sparklingbrook

Hello.How about getting Ade to do Strictly? He would be fab-and he would get my vote. Smile

Well... I'll tell him! He's actually quite a good mover Ade.

JenniferSaunders · 10/10/2013 12:28

@Angeleno

Hiya Jennifer,

In the new Bridget Jones book, Bridget wonders if the best way to raise normal, good children is to be as badly behaved as possible as a parent, and references Saffy in Absolutely Fabulous! Would you agree?

xx

No because Saffy is just as damaged as Edina and Patsy, she just exhibits it in a different way. It's a terrible menage-et-trois of psychological torture!

twogiraffes · 10/10/2013 12:28

Hi Jennifer

What would your 'alternative career' be? And if there was anything in your life you'd have done differently what would it be?

cm22v077 · 10/10/2013 12:28

Hi Jennifer,

Great to have you on Mumsnet! I've only recently found out that you're married to Ade! I loved celebrity masterchef and knew he would win!
So what's it like living with a masterchef champion? Are you treated to fine dining every evening?

JenniferSaunders · 10/10/2013 12:29

@tripethelightfantastic

How do you feel about your husband winning materchef? Are your proud or a tiny bit jel? Would you ever want to do something like that? You would be brilliant on Strictly!

Not jealous at all because I saw how much hard work it was and Ade's very good at putting his mind to something and giving it everything and he's very clever. I think I'd just get very tired and grumpy. However, the upside of Masterchef is we have a marvellously equipped kitchen and lovely food to eat.

MNHQ
KatMumsnet · 10/10/2013 12:30

Hi Jennifer! Wondering if we could be cheeky and ask you a few questions from Gransnet...

  • We heard you became a grandmother in August last year, what's your top grandparenting tip?
  • What does Freddie call you? And Adrian? Were you given a choice?

Thank you! GNHQ Cake xx

Sparklingbrook · 10/10/2013 12:30

Ooh dancing and cooking. Envy

JenniferSaunders · 10/10/2013 12:31

@laurensween

Hi Jennifer!

Did you enjoy the experience writing your memoir - which I am very excited to read! And would you ever consider becoming an author?

Big RESPECT!! Lauren :D

I did enjoy it and I enjoyed it the moment I discovered how to write it in my own voice and stopped trying to pretend to be a writer. I'm not a natural author, and I certainly shan't be trying out novel writing, although of course I'm expecting to win Booker prize and the Nobel prize for my book. And of course the most prestigious, Richard and Judy. I actually think I deserve the prize for best book note... Which refers to Dolly Parton's breasts.

RubyRR · 10/10/2013 12:32

The fastest responses ever on a web chat! I loved watching you and Dawn as a teen, we had a great dance routine to the theme of girls on top! If I tried it now I think I'd end up at A&E. I really enjoy listening to you and Dawn on radio 2, do you have any more dates lined up? Or could you take over Sunday mornings please? That would be perfect!

CinnamonStix · 10/10/2013 12:33

Hi Jennifer! In hindsight, is there anything you would have changed about Viva Forever?

CanCanSal · 10/10/2013 12:33

Hi Jennifer :)

A hypothetical question - if you didn't have the opportunities that were presented to you at the start of your career, and something like Britain's Got Talent existed, would you have applied to perform for the judges or would you have persisted with another career? If so, what would that other career have been? Also, what is your opinion of such shows? I'm glad your career did go the way it went, couldn't imagine comedy without you!

JenniferSaunders · 10/10/2013 12:35

@motherofmuddles

Hi Jennifer V v hard to stick to one questions, so many I could ask - you are on my " if you could invite anyone to dinner who would it be list" Why is it that there are less female comedians than male - hoping you'll know from your insider vantage point so to speak? And thank you for making me laugh so so much from the Comic Strip to Ad Fab- I've loved it all

I think stand-up is quite different to what I do and there are definitely in the UK less female stand-ups because it takes quite a lot of competitive energy and I think often women don't want to aggressively compete in the same way. I think the ones that have made are of extraordinary comedy. There are an awful lot of men out there who are basically crap, but they're fuelled by enough testosterone and fake confidence to get away with it.

I think David Sedaris would be a great perfect to have a meal with.

Mimstar · 10/10/2013 12:36

Oh I didn't actually ask a question in my previous post, can I post one please MN?!

I loved your cameo in Friends, really funny. What current TV Show would you love to appear in?

JenniferSaunders · 10/10/2013 12:36

@RubyRR

The fastest responses ever on a web chat! I loved watching you and Dawn as a teen, we had a great dance routine to the theme of girls on top! If I tried it now I think I'd end up at A&E. I really enjoy listening to you and Dawn on radio 2, do you have any more dates lined up? Or could you take over Sunday mornings please? That would be perfect!

Yes we're doing more radio at Christmas. Because Dawn lives in Cornwall and I live in London and generally being busy we tend to do it occasionally.

achiltibuie · 10/10/2013 12:37

Hi Jennifer!

How do you feel modern TV comedy compares to when you were first starting out?

OmNom · 10/10/2013 12:38

Hello Jennifer

I grew up in the eighties, and you and Dawn French were brilliant role models for young women - funny, clever, confident, attractive but not in a way that defined your public personae.

Would you say you're a feminist? And do you think there was something about the DIY, punk-influenced ethos of the eighties that was particularly liberating for women like you? Or was it the same old seething mass of prejudice underneath a thin veneer of radicalism?

JenniferSaunders · 10/10/2013 12:39

@CanCanSal

Hi Jennifer :)

A hypothetical question - if you didn't have the opportunities that were presented to you at the start of your career, and something like Britain's Got Talent existed, would you have applied to perform for the judges or would you have persisted with another career? If so, what would that other career have been? Also, what is your opinion of such shows? I'm glad your career did go the way it went, couldn't imagine comedy without you!

What a brilliant question! I do believe that people who are talented and are willing to work really hard will make it anyway, and it's the hours that you have to put in that the contestants on the talent shows don't realise. I think if you're serious about a singing career, I don't think that not winning X Factor should mean your life is over and it's the end of opportunity. And also you shouldn't just want to be famous. I have no idea what I would have done if I Britain's Got Talent was around when I was starting out, but I don't think we would have seriously auditioned.

laurensween · 10/10/2013 12:42

"Dolly Parton's breasts" ?! I am intrigued.... !! Good luck with it all and can't wait for any subsequent projects, whatever they may be!

PS, I'm not even a mum. Signed up just for this! Shhhh don't tell anyone!!