The WORST episodes of French & Saunders

Every episode of French & Saunders ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of French & Saunders!

French and Saunders, the world-class comedy duo, have been around now for nearly 20 years entertaining us through the box in the corner. French and Saunders are famous for many takes/spoofs; but most notably the world famous comedy show Absolutely Fabulous, which started in the late 80s, early 90s as a small sketch of a modern mother and daughter. For the first four series they were joined by the spoof middle-of-the-road comedy cabaret duo Raw Sex (Rivron and Brint), who also supported in the sketches. In the 1996 series the duo returned to our screens for more hilarious takes of Baywatch, Braveheart and the singer Bjork. After many years without a series French and Saunders returned in the fall of 2004 for a 6th series of the smash hit comedy.

Last Updated: 10/9/2024Network: BBC TwoStatus: Ended
Share:
Dr. Quimn, Mad Woman
star
3.67
33 votes

#1 - Dr. Quimn, Mad Woman

Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/29/1996

Skits and sketches, including a spoof of Dr Quinn Medicine Woman. Kate Moss guest stars.

Directors: John Birkin
Watch Now:Amazon
Ratings
star
6.32
38 votes

#2 - Ratings

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/30/1987

With poor ratings threatening their show, Dawn and Jennifer resort to extreme measures and hunt down BBC controller Michael Grade. Sketches include the Menopazzi Sisters and a parody of police procedurals.

Directors: Kevin Bishop
Watch Now:Amazon
Blue Peter
star
6.37
38 votes

#3 - Blue Peter

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/6/1987

The show must go on when industrial action and a walk out by Betty Marsden's dance troupe threatens to cause chaos. Musical guest: Jools Holland

Directors: Geoff Posner
Watch Now:Amazon
Beauty and the Beast
star
6.63
46 votes

#4 - Beauty and the Beast

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/9/1987

The very first episode of the light entertainment variety show starring Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, with special guest Alison Moyet performing "Ordinary Girl". Unpaid intern Dawn plots to seize the limelight. In sketches, Steve Rider has the latest in the Sports Report, and Dawn's A-ha pencil case has been stolen at school.

Directors: Geoff Posner
Watch Now:Amazon
Julie Walters
star
6.64
64 votes

#5 - Julie Walters

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/23/1987

Dawn and Jennifer reach for the padding and prosthetics as the infamous Fat Men make their first appearance on the spoof variety show. Jennifer mistakes the week's special guest, Julie T. Wallace, for Julie Walters.

Directors: Kevin Bishop
Watch Now:Amazon
Tricks
star
6.70
69 votes

#6 - Tricks

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/16/1987

French and Saunders try their best to 'star' as extras in an aeroplane TV commercial and special guest Roy Castle performs a song. Jennifer tries to carry off a series of circus tricks to no avail. Others sketches include parodies of Multi-Coloured Swap Shop and The Bangles, and the first appearance of the extras.

Directors: Kevin Bishop
Watch Now:Amazon
The Seventh Seal
star
6.80
5 votes

#7 - The Seventh Seal

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/4/1993

French and Saunders pay homage to Swedish film-maker Ingmar Bergman, and also pay tribute to the rock band Guns N' Roses.

Directors: Bob Spiers
Watch Now:Amazon
Removals
star
7.00
7 votes

#8 - Removals

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/18/1988

The comic duo uncork one of their Hollywood send-ups as a rather senile Katherine Hepburn and Ginger Rogers pay tribute to Fred Astaire. Musical guest: Kirsty MacColl performing "Trains and Boats and Planes".

Directors: Kevin Bishop
Watch Now:Amazon
In Bed with French & Saunders
star
7.60
5 votes

#9 - In Bed with French & Saunders

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/11/1993

In Bed with French and Saunders reveals what goes on backstage for two familiar Madonnas.

Directors: Bob Spiers
Watch Now:Amazon
Franco e Sandro
star
7.80
5 votes

#10 - Franco e Sandro

Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/18/1996

Dawn and Jennifer present a parody of Federico Fellini's movies.

Directors: John Birkin
Watch Now:Amazon
Potholing
star
7.80
5 votes

#11 - Potholing

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/8/1988

Dawn and Jennifer undertake a Journey to the Center of the Earth-style exploration of a cave. Other sketches include inactive teenage athletes, a woman who claims to be Elvis' ex-mistress, and a neurotic housewife. Musical guest: The Proclaimers performing "Make My Heart Fly".

Directors: Kevin Bishop
Watch Now:Amazon
Cable TV
star
7.83
6 votes

#12 - Cable TV

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/11/1988

The Fat Men get somewhat over-excited while watching the Miss World contest on TV, and there's a sparse audience at a Kilroy spoof. Musical guest: Toyah performing "Because the Night"

Directors: Kevin Bishop
Watch Now:Amazon
Killing Time
star
7.83
6 votes

#13 - Killing Time

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/13/1987

The curtains come down on the first series of French and Saunders' spoof entertainment show with special guest Joan Armatrading. Musical guest: Joan Armatrading performing "Killing Time".

Directors: Kevin Bishop
Watch Now:Amazon
The Quick and the Dead
star
8.00
6 votes

#14 - The Quick and the Dead

Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/8/1996

Skits and sketches from Dawn and Jennifer, featuring a spoof of Western The Quick and the Dead, guest starring Lenny Henry.

Directors: John Birkin
Watch Now:Amazon
Braveheart
star
8.00
4 votes

#15 - Braveheart

Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/11/1996

Skits and sketches from Dawn and Jennifer including a parody of Bjork and their unique version of Braveheart.

Directors: John Birkin
Watch Now:Amazon
Whatever Happened to Baby Dawn?
star
8.00
32 votes

#16 - Whatever Happened to Baby Dawn?

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/22/1990

Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders pay tribute to the American thriller Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? Other sketches include a parody of Bros and two hapless magazine editors. Musical guests: Kirsty MacColl and Raw Sex performing "Somethin' Stupid".

Directors: Bob Spiers
Watch Now:Amazon
Decades
star
8.00
6 votes

#17 - Decades

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/4/1988

The talented comic duo return for a second series with Dawn handing out some muddled contraceptive advice to Jennifer. Musical guest: Squeeze performing "853-5937"

Directors: Kevin Bishop
Watch Now:Amazon
Dangerous Liaisons
star
8.06
33 votes

#18 - Dangerous Liaisons

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/12/1990

Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders develop Dangerous Liaisons with more outrageous parody. With special guest Joan Bakewell. Other parodies include Birds of a Feather, Tanita Tikaram, and The Factory.

Directors: Bob Spiers
Watch Now:Amazon
The Queen
star
8.25
4 votes

#19 - The Queen

Season 6 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/29/2004

Behind the scenes in the office, Dawn is feeling ignored and wonders why she hasn't been invited to the Palace to meet the Queen. Jennifer has been invited and instead of writing scripts is practising her curtsey. Sketches include tributes to Kill Bill, Most Haunted and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Directors: Ed Bye
Watch Now:Amazon
The House of Idiot
star
8.33
6 votes

#20 - The House of Idiot

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/25/1993

French and Saunders pay their own comic tribute to the serial House of Eliott and there are comic takes on Pan's People, Gladiators and the royal family.

Directors: Bob Spiers
Watch Now:Amazon
The Exorcist
star
8.40
5 votes

#21 - The Exorcist

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/29/1990

French and Saunders with guests including Lynn Faulds Wood and Maggie Philbin perform the sketches 'The Exorcist', 'Girl Bikers', and 'Publishers'. Musical guest: Kirsty MacColl performing "Ride".

Directors: Bob Spiers
Watch Now:Amazon
The Sound of Music
star
8.40
5 votes

#22 - The Sound of Music

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/15/1990

The hills are alive with the sound of French and Saunders as Dawn and Jennifer parody The Sound of Music. With special guest Jerry Hall. Other sketches include parodies of ABBA and Sonia, and the first appearance of Pear Tree Farm. Musical guest: Kirsty MacColl performing "Fifteen Minutes".

Directors: Bob Spiers
Watch Now:Amazon
Misery
star
8.67
6 votes

#23 - Misery

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 2/18/1993

Featuring a memorable reenactment of the film 'Misery' and an exclusive performance by Dickens Daughters.

Directors: Bob Spiers
Watch Now:Amazon
Gone with the Wind
star
8.67
6 votes

#24 - Gone with the Wind

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/5/1990

French and Saunders have Gone with the Wind with Jennifer as Scarlett and Dawn as Mammy. Musical guest: Kirsty MacColl performing "Don't Come the Cowboy with Me Sonny Jim!"

Directors: Bob Spiers
Watch Now:Amazon
Aliens
star
8.71
7 votes

#25 - Aliens

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/18/1993

Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders pay comic tribute to Sigourney Weaver in the film Aliens.

Directors: Bob Spiers
Watch Now:Amazon