It's like Cast Away, only with Patsy Stone*

September 6, 2023 5:26 AM

In 1994, during the heyday of the run of Absolutely Fabulous [and well before Survivor], Joanna Lumley decided to do a a reality show where she was "stranded" on a desert island. Very early reality television, utterly breaking the fourth wall, and completely charming. Girl Friday [Wikipedia] Part 1, Part 2 [75m total]

*Joanna Lumley the person is nothing like Patsy Stone the character she plays.

posted by hippybear (7 comments total)

Well I know how I’m spending my morning. Thanks hippybear - first I’ve heard of this.
posted by whatevernot at 5:48 AM on September 6, 2023

Her travel documentaries on Netflix are saved for the dreariest of days - colour and Lumley's wonderful voice as she charms strangers and delights in the world.
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 6:06 AM on September 6, 2023 [2 favorites]

I watched this aged 14 when it was originally aired in 1994, but had completely forgotten about it. It is a really compelling watch. It’s funny what remains lodged in the dark recesses of your memory: as soon as I got to the bit where she turns a bra into a pair of shoes it triggered a rush of recognition!
posted by greycap at 6:31 AM on September 6, 2023 [2 favorites]

Oh! Here's an interview with Lumley talking about the Girl Friday experience. [time jumped to pertinent part] It was apparently quite a profound experience for her.
posted by hippybear at 6:31 PM on September 6, 2023

Joanna Lumley is one of the most interesting people in showbiz - extremely intelligent and very cosmopolitan.
posted by Miko at 11:28 PM on September 6, 2023

Super impressed with Joanna Lumley in this, she seems like such an intelligent, friendly person. I know her primarily through AbFab, and never would've guessed she's so completely different from her character there. I mean, I knew she was playing a caricature, but I figured she would be your typical famous party person in real life or something.

I'm also jealous of the friendship between her and Jennifer Saunders. Just before you posted this (like, literally an hour before posting, it was a heavy paperwork day, and I like having the telly on while sorting paperwork) I'd watched an old episode of celebrity Bake Off with her and Saunders, and was impressed by both of them.
posted by newpotato at 2:35 AM on September 7, 2023

"All irregularities will be handled by the forces controlling each dimension. Transuranic heavy elements may not be used where there is life. Medium atomic weights are available: Gold, Lead, Copper, Jet, Diamond, Radium, Sapphire, Silver and Steel. Sapphire and Steel have been assigned."
posted by doctornemo at 3:33 PM on September 7, 2023 [3 favorites]