Jennifer Saunders has revealed the secret to her 35-year marriage to husband Ade Edmondson, 64, is they are both ‘masters of keep it in’.
The comedian, 62, told how the couple, who have three children, have learned how to avoid having conflict, a trait she also believes is why she enjoys such a successful working relationship with comedy partner Dawn French.
Speaking to Radio Times, she said: ‘We are masters of keep it in, get over it, move on. It’s probably the same with Dawn actually – we’ve worked out a way to avoid conflict.’
Relationship: Jennifer Saunders has revealed the secret to her 35-year marriage to husband Ade Edmondson is they are both ‘masters of keep it in’
Jennifer has remained close friends with Dawn and her Absolutely Fabulous co-star Joanna Lumley after working with both of them for years.
The actress explained it was working together and ‘having a laugh’ that made them bond, as she and Dawn were flatmates for a while before they became close.
She said: ‘Although I shared a flat with Dawn, we didn’t become good friends until we started making up sketches. The same with Joanna; I didn’t know her at all till she came to be Patsy [in Absolutely Fabulous]. It’s all tied into the joy of having a laugh together.’
Jennifer added: ‘When Dawn and I get together, we talk a lot. She helps me sort out my feelings about things and people. Often, I’ll have a very entrenched opinion about something and Dawn will change my mind.’
Pals: Jennifer said the couple avoid conflict, a trait she also believes is why she enjoys such a successful working relationship with comedy partner Dawn French
However, the star also said they are both becoming more anxious as they get older and ‘worry more’ now.
Jennifer believes her friendships with Dawn and Joanna are also successful because they don’t expect much from each other.
Discussing her relationship with Ade, Jennifer told how the couple spent their Christmas alone and are worried things won’t be back to normal by summer.
The Absolutely Fabulous star has four grandchildren who she has not been able to see amid the pandemic, describing it as ‘absolutely awful’.
Co-stars: Jennifer has remained close friends with Dawn and her Absolutely Fabulous co-star Joanna Lumley after working with both of them for years
Jennifer added she is pinning her hopes on summer 2022, by which point she will have missed out on two years of her grandchildren’s everyday lives, however she does Zoom them regularly.
The actress said she desperately misses performing and was jealous of Ade when he recently got to film for Midsomer Murders while her daughter Beattie has been working on the BBC’s adaptation of The Pursuit of Love with Emily Mortimer and Andrew Scott.
It comes after Beattie recently revealed that she used to write some of the Absolutely Fabulous scripts in the car on the way to school.
Speaking on Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable, she confessed: ‘Yeah it was actually me. Can you believe it, not a single credit.’
Jennifer said: ‘We are masters of keep it in, get over it, move on. It’s probably the same with Dawn actually – we’ve worked out a way to avoid conflict’
The revelation came as part of a game where guests had to fill in the missing words to a confession.
When Beattie’s answer was revealed it read: ‘I wrote my mum’s Ab Fab scripts in the back of the car.’
She explained: ‘It was dictated to me and my sisters by my mum in the back of the car on the way to school.
‘We would sort of write, “and then Patsy says: “Oh darling, get some more Bolly” or something.’
Honest: It comes after Jennifer’s daughter Beattie, 33, recently revealed that she used to write some of the Absolutely Fabulous scripts in the car on the way to school
Funny! Jennifer, who was on Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable alongside her daughter, hid behind her hands in embarrassment as the confession was discussed by Beattie and Mel
Jennifer, who was on the show alongside her daughter, hid behind her hands in embarrassment as the confession was discussed by Beattie and Mel.
‘My mum literally used to write scripts on the way to read-throughs,’ revealed the star’s daughter.
‘It’s absolutely true,’ admitted Jennifer. ‘Drop them at school, get on the train, go to read-through – hadn’t written it,’ she recalled.
A much-loved series, Absolutely Fabulous ran from 1992-2012. The show followed the misadventures of two best friends Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone.
In 2016, Jennifer and Joanna also starred in a feature length film based on the show, which guest starred Kate Moss.
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