Patsy and Eddie reunite on Burberry front row at London Fashion Week

Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley reunited on the fashion stage Monday, sitting front row at Burberry’s London show in Kensington Gardens as the week closed with a note of Brit nostalgia. After more than a decade away from the fashion camera, the Absolutely Fabulous stars returned to a couture setting that looked less like a revival and more like a celebration of a cultural moment that helped define a generation.

On the front row, the pair mixed with pop and fashion elite, including Elton John and Naomi Campbell, as Burberry delivered a collection rooted in classic English wardrobe. Saunders and Lumley kept their reunion in step with the label’s refined aesthetic, opting for Burberry trench coats and the brand’s signature check accessories rather than the flamboyant silhouettes their on-screen characters once wore. The moment carried a deliberate nod to the show’s heyday: Twiggy, who guest-starred as herself in two episodes, sat nearby, and Saunders and Lumley were photographed sharing quick laughs with the legendary model.

The appearance comes as London Fashion Week’s finale leaned into Brit-nostalgia, a mood that suits the duo’s long-running partnership. It has been nine years since Eddie and Patsy last appeared on screen, and Saunders has repeatedly indicated she would not revive the characters beyond the 2016 feature film. Last year, the network Gold aired Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out, a two-hour tribute that brought the cast back together for behind-the-scenes moments and reflections on the show’s enduring impact.

The roots of Absolutely Fabulous trace back to a French & Saunders sketch that introduced an Eddie-like character called Adrianna and, through a collaboration with Ruby Wax, evolved into a full series. Ruby Wax later described how she proposed Joanna Lumley for Patsy, a decision that helped shape the iconic duo. The program grew into a cultural touchstone, attracting a roster of A-list guests over its five-season run and its subsequent film. In the years since, Saunders has balanced nostalgia with distance, ensuring the live-action spark fans cherished remains a distinct moment rather than a continuing franchise.

Absolutely Fabulous ran for five seasons beginning in 1992 and produced one feature-length film, cementing its place in British television history. The characters’ blend of sharp wit, champagne-splashed excess, and fearless humor helped define a generation, and the Burberry moment at London Fashion Week served as a curated bridge between that era and the contemporary fashion stage. While some fans had hoped for a revival, Saunders has kept expectations tempered, signaling that the beloved duo may not return to the screen in the same form. The industry’s current landscape—where fashion and television continually cross-pollinate—nevertheless carries the imprint of Ab Fab, a show whose influence persists in the way designers and performers reference Britpop and late 20th-century style.

As Burberry closed London Fashion Week with a performance of Brit nostalgia, Saunders and Lumley’s presence underscored how fashion events can reframe legacy. The front-row reunion offered attendees a rare convergence of television history and runway culture, captivating fans who grew up watching Patsy Stone and Edina Monsoon navigate a globe of excess with wit and style.