Absolutely Fabulous
Cleanin'
TV Flash files “Cleanin'” as the first listed hour of season 5 — Absolutely Fabulous (1992–2012) on BBC One, season 5, episode 1, aired 2003-10-17, 30 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S05E01: listed hour 26 of 33 in the Absolutely Fabulous guide, first listed hour of season 5. It aired 2003-10-17 (30 min). The listed hour before it is “Gay” (S04E07). Next is “Book Clubbin'” (S05E02).
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
Saffy is in Iraq and, in her absence, Edina's house and career are in a mess. Saffy returns with big news.
Viewer FAQ
Where does Cleanin' sit in the Absolutely Fabulous guide?
S05E01 is listed hour 26 of 33 — first listed hour of season 5, season 5 episode 1.
When did Absolutely Fabulous S05E01 air?
Cleanin' aired 2003-10-17 and is listed at 30 minutes.
Is it a U.S. sitcom?
BBC One from 1992, with a U.S. cult via comedy imports. Saunders and Lumley as fashion-PR degenerates, not a Must-See clone.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Sweetie darling: fashion PR as self-destruction, champagne as plot, two women who refuse respectability. Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley treat aging, money, and taste as contact sports. British import comedy that dared U.S. living rooms — female excess without apology, ancestor of every later show that let women be disasters on purpose.
In medias res in a fashion-PR hangover: champagne as plot, two women who refuse respectability, a sensible daughter already judging the lighting. Jennifer Saunders created the BBC sitcom (premiere 1992) and starred opposite Joanna Lumley's Patsy; Julia Sawalha, June Whitfield, and Jane Horrocks completed a household that treats aging, money, and taste as contact sports. Max can keep his drop-day degenerates; this is British import comedy that dared U.S. living rooms via PBS and cable — female excess without…
Filed against
- Jennifer Saunders as Edina Monsoon
Jennifer Saunders’s Edina Monsoon made Absolutely Fabulous a champagne crime scene — fashion PR as self-destruction, two women who refuse respectability, aging and money and taste as contact sports. Sweetie darling as a 1990s import dare.…
- Joanna Lumley as Patsy Stone
Joanna Lumley made Patsy Stone a contact sport on Absolutely Fabulous — champagne as plot, fashion PR as self-destruction, two women who refuse respectability. Jennifer Saunders’s partner in female excess without apology. TV Flash files…
- Julia Sawalha as Saffron Monsoon
Julia Sawalha’s Saffron Monsoon was Absolutely Fabulous’s designated adult — fashion PR as self-destruction, champagne as plot, Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley treating aging, money, and taste as contact sports. British import that…
- June Whitfield as Mother
June Whitfield’s Mother sat through Absolutely Fabulous as the original problem — fashion PR as self-destruction, champagne as plot, Saunders and Lumley treating aging, money, and taste as contact sports. British import excess without…
- Jane Horrocks as Bubble
Jane Horrocks’s Bubble made Absolutely Fabulous sound like a PA with no filter — sweetie darling adjacent, fashion PR as self-destruction, champagne as plot, two women who refuse respectability. 1990s British import excess. TV Flash files…