Comedy legend Jennifer Saunders has opened up about her decision to decline a spot on the hit BBC reality show, Celebrity Traitors. The Absolutely Fabulous actress, 67, confirmed she was approached to join the line-up for the programme, which this year featured celebrities like Alan Carr, Cat Deeley, and Jonathan Ross.
The Real Reason Behind the Rejection
In a candid interview with The Times, Saunders explained her surprising rationale for turning down the opportunity. 'Because if I'd done it, I couldn't have watched it!' she revealed. 'And I wanted to watch it soooo badly.' The actress added that she would never consider appearing on other reality shows like Strictly Come Dancing or I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! either.
Saunders expressed doubts about her potential performance on the psychological game show, where contestants must identify the 'traitors' among them. 'I don't reckon I'd be any good on Traitors,' she admitted. 'I'm not very good at disguising embarrassment or excitement or things.' However, she did acknowledge one potential strength: 'I think I'm quite good at reading people. I'm very good at getting energy from people. I can immediately tell when someone's pissed off or frightened or whatever.'
Public Persona Versus Private Self
The interview also explored the contrast between Saunders' public image and her true personality. She mused that 'People don't really know who I am...' and revealed that many perceive her as 'grumpy and a bit brusque' when she believes this isn't an accurate reflection of her character.
Saunders addressed the common perception that she can be 'frightening,' attributing this to her naturally 'blank' face that she's had since childhood. While participating in Celebrity Traitors might have given the public greater insight into her true personality, she ultimately prioritized her enjoyment as a viewer over becoming a contestant.
Ab Fab Reunions and Legacy
The revelation comes months after Saunders and her Absolutely Fabulous co-star Joanna Lumley reunited for a memorable appearance at the Burberry show during London Fashion Week last September. The event closed the fashion week with a spectacle of British nostalgia, with the actresses sitting on the packed front row alongside luminaries like Elton John and Naomi Campbell.
In a departure from their characters' flamboyant style, both women opted for classic Burberry trench coats and the brand's signature check accessories. The occasion featured another nod to their nineties series, as they were seated next to model Twiggy, who famously guest-starred as herself in two episodes of Absolutely Fabulous.
The sitcom, which grew out of a French & Saunders sketch, ran for five successful seasons from 1992 to 2003 and spawned a 2016 film. Last year, Gold aired Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out, a two-hour tribute to the ground-breaking comedy that saw Saunders and Lumley reunite to reveal behind-the-scenes secrets.
Interestingly, Lumley nearly wasn't cast as Patsy Stone. She recalled frustration during the 1991 pilot episode, explaining she couldn't decipher what Saunders wanted for the character. 'I rang my agent and said, 'I don't think Jennifer wants me, but she's too polite to say anything. Do you think you can get me out of this?'' Lumley remembered. Fortunately, her agent persuaded her to continue, and television history was made.
The show almost didn't make it to air after a BBC comedy executive declared that 'he didn't find drunk women funny.' However, producer John Plowman recalled that comedian Ben Elton saw the pilot and declared: 'Well, I've seen the future of comedy and it's that.'
