We love the myth of the instant creative connection, two kindred spirits locking eyes across a room. But one of Britain’s most iconic comedy duos began with absolute mutual disdain. Jennifer Saunders thought Dawn French was a cocky upstart; French found Saunders snooty and uptight. That friction was flint and steel.

This episode traces the accidental brilliance of Jennifer Saunders, a reluctant young woman mostly on the dole who transformed into a BAFTA-winning screenwriter, sitcom creator, and the voice of a beloved animated villain. Her greatest achievements sprang not from a master plan but from reluctance, friction, and sudden shifts in circumstance.

• How a mother forged her college application, landing her in a drama teaching course she never wanted
• The cringe-worthy early act called the Menopause Sisters, with tampons worn in the ears, before the Comic Strip booked them on the spot
• The origin of Absolutely Fabulous as a 14-minute sketch inspired by an Italian employer from her au pair days
• How Dawn French’s last-minute adoption call forced Saunders to write and carry Ab Fab alone, making it a global phenomenon
• Recording the entire Fairy Godmother role in Shrek 2, including Holding Out for a Hero, in just four days, and her decision to decline an OBE