Dawn French recalls the heart breaking reason she decided to quit hit sketch show French And Saunders

Dawn French has opened up about the reason why she suddenly quit her hit BBC show French and Saunders after six seasons in 2004.

The wildly popular sketch show saw French and fellow comedian Jennifer Saunders create spoofs and satires of pop culture, films and famous faces. Launching on BBC Two in 1987, the comedy programme was eventually moved to BBC One and given one of the biggest budgets in the broadcaster's history.

Despite its success, French exited the sketch show in 2004, much to the shock of Saunders and their cult following of fans. Now, in an interview with The Times, she's detailed how feeling 'ugly' after a particular day of filming led her to cry 'hot, angry tears' and throw in the towel.

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The comedy duo were working on a sketch where they were each in a toilet stall in a BBC building, with French talking about her dream that American popstar Anastacia would hear her sing and invite her along for a cameo on Top of the Pops. As fate would have it, none other than the Left Outside Alone hitmaker happened to be overhearing their chat outside the stalls.

The next thing you know, French is clad in Anastacia’s classic cowgirl outfit, singing on Top of the Pops alongside the star. French wrote of the moment in her new book, The T**t Files: “I’d genuinely never felt so ugly.

"I’d often voluntarily, happily been ‘ugly’ for hundreds of sketches. I’ve never minded what something looks like, as long as it’s servicing the joke right. The mirror was clearly telling me why this was so painfully abhorrent. Because the joke was on me.”

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