[Televisionary]

Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley are back... though they're not quite as absolutely fabulous this time around. Digital cabler BBC America has announced a launch date for its latest programming acquisition, Clatterford (which aired in the UK under the title Jam & Jerusalem ), from the fertile mind of Ab Fab creator Jennifer Saunders. Series, which reunites the Absolutely Fabulous pairing of Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley , will kick off on Friday, March 9th at 9 pm ET/10 pm PT. Saunders, who wrote and executive produces Clatterford , stars as Caroline, whom the BBC America press materials refer to as "a very busy lady of the countryside." (Just look at that jaunty hat sitting positively askew on her head; if she's not a busybody, then I'll eat that hat with HP sauce gladly.) However, it's nearly impossible to recognize the former Patsy Stone herself, Joanna Lumley, who plays a rather terrifying-looking eccentric old woman named Delilah prone to r...

Crack open the Bollie, sweetie darlings! Cabler BBC America has ordered two new comedy series from Absolutely Fabulous creator Jennifer Saunders, who will write, star, and exec produce these series (with The Office' s Jon Plowman), both co-productions between Auntie Beeb and its Stateside offshoot. First up, is the seven-episode black comedy Clatterford , which sees Saunders reunited with Ab Fab partner in crime Joanna Lumley. For the ladies of Clatterford, a small English country town, life in their book club is peaceful and orderly... until the arrival of a new member (Waking the Dead's Sue Johnston), freshly widowed, casts their tranquil little coterie into gossip. Saunders will play Caroline, a notorious busy-body, while Lumley will play a mischief-making eccentric named Delilah Stagg. (Also look for Peep Show 's David Mitchell to turn up as a rather sensible doctor.) The casting marks the first time that the twosome, who played Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone on Ab Fab...