Jennifer Saunders, the brilliant mind behind the beloved sitcom Absolutely Fabulous, has left fans in awe with a surprising revelation: a character many didn’t suspect is, in fact, gay. In a recent TV special, Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out, Saunders unearthed old notes that confirmed Bubble, Eddie’s eccentric assistant, is the one with a secret queer identity. While the flamboyant world of Ab Fab was always full of bold, boundary-pushing characters, this revelation adds a new layer to the colorful show’s legacy.
Reflecting on her discovery, Saunders admitted, “Bubble is gay! I never knew that.” The unexpected find came from handwritten notes she made decades ago, which included a question about Bubble’s girlfriend. It seems that even Saunders had forgotten that she originally intended Bubble, played by Jane Horrocks, to have an LGBTQ storyline. Yet, the character’s quirky, surreal nature ultimately overshadowed any further exploration of her personal life.
For fans who were speculating for years, many believed it was Eddie’s daughter, Saffy, who might be sapphic. Instead, it turns out that the quirky, and at times clueless, Bubble was meant to be at the heart of this underexplored queer narrative.
Saunders also shared how Bubble’s character was kept intentionally mysterious, remarking that it was a creative decision to not dive too deeply into her backstory. This air of mystery allowed Bubble to exist on the fringes of the chaotic world of Edina and Patsy, adding to her whimsical charm. Yet, Saunders’ notes make it clear that even in the early 90s, LGBTQ representation was considered for one of the show’s pivotal characters.
Absolutely Fabulous, with its camp and exaggerated humor, has always had a close connection to LGBTQ audiences, offering outrageous fun and endless quotable moments. But revelations like these show that there was always potential for even more explicit queer storylines.
The series, which spanned from 1992 to 2004, with additional episodes and a 2016 movie, has remained a cult favorite, particularly among LGBTQ viewers. As Saunders continues to tease possible future Ab Fab projects, one thing is clear—fans want more queer content. The LGBTQ community has always embraced Ab Fab for its camp humor and its unapologetic celebration of eccentricity. This recent reveal only deepens the affection for the iconic show, proving that it still has the potential to surprise and delight audiences today.