The fifth and final series of the British television sitcom Absolutely Fabulous premiered on BBC One on 17 October 2003 and concluded on 24 December 2003, consisting of eight episodes. A Christmas special, "White Box", followed the fifth series and was broadcast in 2004. Though no further series have followed, three specials were broadcast several years later to mark the show's 20th anniversary for 2012.
Cast and characters
Main
Jennifer Saunders as Edina Monsoon
Joanna Lumley as Patsy Stone
Julia Sawalha as Saffron Monsoon
Jane Horrocks as Bubble / Katy Grin
June Whitfield as Mother
Recurring
Helen Lederer as Catriona
Harriet Thorpe as Fleur
Fern Britton as herself
Emma Bunton as herself
Felix Dexter as John
Naoko Mori as Sarah
Mo Gaffney as Bo
Chris Ryan as Marshall
Christopher Malcolm as Justin
Simon Brodkin as doctor
Guest
Llewella Gideon as tanning beautician
Janette Krankie as midwife
Kristin Scott Thomas as Plum
Mariella Frostrup as herself
Minnie Driver as herself
Mossie Smith as Flossie
Stephen Finegold as policeman
Emer O'Connor as policewoman
Clarissa Dickson Wright as herself
Sergio Priftis as Chicago dancer
Todd Talbot as Chicago dancer
Simon Breen as Chicago dancer
Zak Nemorin as Chicago dancer
Richard Roe as Chicago dancer
Robert Lindsay as Pete
Katie Blake as Booberella actor
Sam Spedding as Booberella actor
Elton John as himself
Charlotte Palmer as zoo keeper
Perou as photographer
Jean Paul Gaultier as himself
Alex Lowe as wood cutter
Eleanor Bron as Patsy's mother
Kate O'Mara as Jackie
Amy Phillips as paramedic
Marion Pashley as nurse
"White Box" guest cast
Nathan Lane as Kunz
Laurie Metcalf as Crystalline
Miranda Richardson as Bettina
Patrick Barlow as Max
Mo Gaffney as Bo
Christopher Ryan as Marshall
Miranda Hart as Yoko
Terence Conran as himself
Episodes
Award and nominations
Series 5
Television and Radio Industries Club Awards
—Won: TRIC Award for Best TV Comedy Programme
White Box
BAFTA Awards
—Nominated: BAFTA Award for Best Make Up & Hair Design – Christine Cant
Home media
DVD (Region 1) "Series 5" – 13 September 2005 As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything" (9-disc set) – 27 May 2008 As Part of the "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely All of It!" (10-disc set) - 5 November 2013
DVD (Region 2) "Series 5" – 27 September 2004 As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything" (10-disc set) – 15 November 2010 As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything - The Definitive Edition" (11-disc set) – 17 March 2014
DVD (Region 4) "Series 5" – 8 April 2004 As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything" (9-disc set) – 20 April 2006 As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Complete Collection" (10-disc set) – 5 April 2011 As Part of the "Absolutely Everything: Definitive Edition" (11-disc set) – 30 April 2014
'White Box special
United States
"White Box" – 16 October 2007
As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything" (9-disc set) – 27 May 2008 As Part of the "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely All of It!" (10-disc set) - 5 November 2013 United Kingdom As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything" (10-disc set) – 15 November 2010 As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything - The Definitive Edition" (11-disc set) – 17 March 2014
Note: "White Box" has never been released in the UK as an individual DVD, but was first released as part of the "Absolutely Everything" collection in 2010
Australia
"White Box" – 2 November 2005
As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything" (9-disc set) – 20 April 2006 As part of "Absolutely Fabulous: Complete Collection" (10-disc set) – 5 April 2011 As Part of the "Absolutely Everything: Definitive Edition" (11-disc set) – 30 April 2014
Other media
A behind-the-scenes special documentary, "The Story Of Absolutely Fabulous", was broadcast on 2 January 2004. The special gives a definitive account of the history of the series.