Absolutely Fabulous’ Jane Horrocks accuses producers of ‘churning out’ the same actors for top roles

Jane Horrocks has accused television producers of ‘churning out’ the same actors for leading roles. 

The British actress, renowned for her role in BBC sitcom Absolutely Fabulous, claimed that TV bosses are ‘so short-sighted’ during an intimate event, The Space, in Brighton. 

The 58-year-old believes that a wider range of actors should be considered for such roles, as they could bring something new. 

Quizzed on how she felt about Olivia Colman, Keeley Hawes and Lily James being handed all the coveted telly gigs, she responded: ‘And Sarah Lancashire.’ 

She continued: ‘I think it’s a bit limiting for the audience to see the same crowd always coming on.

‘I just feel sorry for the audience really that the commissioners and the producers are so short-sighted that they have to keep churning out the same people.

Speaking out: The British actress, 58, believes that a wider range of actors should be considered for such roles, as they could bring something new (pictured September 2019)

In character: Jane took on the role of Bubble – Edina (Jennifer Saunders’) ‘utterly brainless personal assistant’ – and Katy Grin in BBC sitcom Absolutely Fabulous (pictured on the show)

Leading ladies: Jane was quizzed on how she felt about Olivia Colman (pictured this month), Keeley Hawes and Lily James being handed all the coveted telly gigs

‘They do an amazing job and if they’re being offered the roles then, of course, you take them,’ she said, before adding that she deems this to be ‘slightly dull.’

Elsewhere during the discussion, Jane, who also starred in the 90s musical film Little Voice, admitted she’s always been nervous with ‘sexy’ roles and described herself as ‘not very good at them.’

Absolutely Fabulous, also known as Ab Fab, was created by Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. 

Iconic: Absolutely Fabulous, also known as Ab Fab, was created by Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders (From L-R: Jennifer, Julia Sawalha, Jane and Joanna Lumley)

Jane took on the role of Bubble – Edina (Jennifer Saunders’) ‘utterly brainless personal assistant’ – and Katy Grin, and starred alongside the likes of Joanna Lumley and Julia Sawalha. 

The first three series ran from 1992 to 1995, with a two-part series finale airing in 1996. 

It was revived for two more series and two 60-minute specials which aired from 2001 to 2004. 

Then in 2011 and 2012, three new episodes, collectively titled Absolutely Fabulous: 20th Anniversary, were released.  

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie – the de facto series finale for the show – hit cinemas in 2016.

The end: Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie – the de facto series finale for the show – hit cinemas in 2016 (Jane pictured at the world premiere in June of that year)