French and Saunders reunite on TV

The pair have recently been working on separate projects

Comedy duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders are to return to BBC One for their first series in six years.

The show, which will be screened in the autumn, will feature a mix of sketches, film spoofs and celebrity guests.

It will also take a behind-the-scenes look at the pair writing their shows in their office at BBC Television Centre.

French And Saunders have continued to make Christmas specials together for the BBC, but more recently have been working on separate projects.

French has starred in the BBC One comedy Wild West while the most recent series of Saunders' sitcom Absolutely Fabulous was shown on BBC One in late 2003.

Producer

The new series will see them struggling to write material, while wandering around the BBC's Television Centre arguing with security guards and trying to keep their boss, a fictitious producer called Elaine, happy.

A BBC spokeswoman denied that the character was based on anyone in particular at the corporation.

Spoofs of recent blockbusters including The Passion of the Christ and Cold Mountain are also promised, as well as guest celebrities playing parts in sketches and appearing as themselves.

Past celebrities to appear on the show have included Kylie Minogue, Miranda Richardson Felicity Kendall, Jeremy Irons and The Spice Girls.