French and Saunders star in new series

Comic duo French and Saunders are to mark 20 years at the BBC with a new six-part series.

A Bucket o’ French & Saunders will air on BBC One from September 7.

The show will feature classic sketches from past series alongside new material in which the pair give their own take on the likes of Sir Alan Sugar, Britney Spears, Simon Cowell and Amy Winehouse.

Joanna Lumley introduces the first episode, telling viewers they can watch Dawn and Jennifer "get fatter and older in front of your very eyes".

The pair - who met at drama school in 1977 - say this will be their last sketch show, although they are looking forward to touring next year.

Saunders told The Times: “Now you have Little Britain and Catherine Tate. The best stuff we did had huge budgets and you don’t get those any more. I’d like to work with Dawn, but it would have to be a different way on television.”