You can’t keep the Ab Fab ladies down. The Absolutely Fabulous TV show initially ran for three seasons, from 1992 until 1995, and was capped by a two-part TV-movie finale in 1996. It was revived in 2001 for two more seasons, another TV movie, and an hour-long special in 2004. Though there have been talks of doing an American version, none have gotten off the ground. The UK show and characters remain very popular today, both here and overseas.

BBC Worldwide has now announced that they are producing three new specials, nearly 20 years after the original Absolutely Fabulous TV series debuted.

There’s the official press release:

BBC WORLDWIDE STRIKES CO-PRODUCTION DEAL WITH BBC AMERICA, LOGO FOR NEW ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS SPECIALS

New York – August 29, 2011 – They’re back, darlings. BBC Worldwide Sales and Distribution, announced today that comedy phenomenon Absolutely Fabulous will return to television with three brand new specials, with BBC AMERICA and Logo serving as joint American co-producers for the series. Comedy sensations Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley will reprise their celebrated roles as Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone. The duo last teamed up for the BBC AMERICA comedy, Clatterford in 2006.

Twenty years ago the world was introduced to Edina, Patsy and Saffron. It has never been quite the same. Eddy PR’d things. She was into every new fad and fashion imaginable and was often to be found at the bottom of a Champagne glass, actually more likely a bottle. Not much has changed. Her best friend Patsy worked in magazines and lived the high life. She still does. Eddy’s daughter Saffy was hard-working, all but ignored by her mother and hated by Patsy. Eddy’s mother was and is, well, her mother. They are all back for three new shows, 20 years after they first fell on to television.

Jennifer Saunders said, “We are thrilled to be able to celebrate our 20th birthday with all of the original cast. We hope that, like a good bottle of champagne we have grown better with age but lost none of our sparkle. Viewers in the US have been very kind to the show over the years and we are very happy to return on not one but two US channels at once, BBC AMERICA and Logo. We fully intend to party like it’s 1991. When we started filming in West London, it was like time had stood still. It was raining. Nevertheless we are so happy to be working for an audience that has grown just a tiny bit older, like us, but is still willing to let us fall over on TV in the name of PR.”

Executive Producer Jon Plowman said, “People in the U.S. have been fantastically loyal in their devotion to our show, so we really are thrilled to say that it’s coming back for three new shows to celebrate our 20th anniversary. I can divulge that all of us have got a bit older, though we will be doing our best not to show it, and thankfully none of us have got any wiser. All of the originals who are back together again are still truly absolutely fabulous and we hope that the new adventures of Edina, Patsy, Saffy, Bubble and Mother, plus a few surprising guests, will entertain both our tried and trusted U.S. fans as well as gain us some new friends. We are hugely grateful to BBC AMERICA and Logo for welcoming us all back with open arms.”

The deal was brokered by Jemma Adkins, SVP, TV Sales & Co-Productions – Fiction, BBC Worldwide America. BBC Worldwide owns global distribution rights to the new specials.

The original Absolutely Fabulous series has been a part of BBC AMERICA’s flagship line-up over the years. Logo began airing the first five seasons ofAbsolutely Fabulous in April 2011, to great success.

Absolutely Fabulous is a BBC Comedy production, and has been written by Jennifer Saunders. Directed by Mandy Fletcher and produced by Justin Davies. Executive Producer is Jon Plowman.

What do you think? Are you a fan of Absolutely Fabulous? Will you be watching these specials?