I have just finished reading comedienne Dawn French's first book Dear Fatty. I have to say that I enjoyed this book despite the fact that it has taken ages for me to read it. I guess part of the problem, apart from personal reasons, has been that it is such as easy book to put down, leave for a while and pick up again.

Written as a series of letters to people who have been, and still are, important in Dawn's life Dear Fatty has a memoirs feel to it. As Dawn is well known for her rotund figure I presumed the title Dear Fatty referred to herself. However it turns out it is directed at her long time stage partner and friend, Jennifer Saunders. I guess there was a time when Jen was a little larger than Dawn but not for a long time now.

Love her or loathe her there can be few people in the UK who have not heard of Dawn French. The Vicar of Dibley has probably resulted in Dawn becoming famous further afield. Me, I love Dawn French, and her hysterical humour. Of course there has been much more to Dawn's comedy career than I mention in this hub such as the Comic Strip, Murder Most Horrid, Jam and Jerusalem and Girls of Top I have simply detailed what, for me, are Dawn's best bits. That is, her funniest performances.

Reading her book made me realise that Dawn and I have more in common than our addiction for chocolate, a struggling weight problem and a huge sense of humour. Dawn's father committed suicide when she was 19 which is something my father attempted when I was 14. He then died by the time I was 17 and so we share a common loss, at a very vulnerable age. However each such loss is so personal I only mean that we share a loss in a vague sort of way.

Dawn is never afraid of making her self look silly or even ridiculous in the name of comedy. Watching Dawn prance around in a ballerina outfit as the supposed mirror image of tall and slender professional ballerina Darcy Bussell, showed this admirably. However Dear Fatty showed what we already guessed that Dawn has had some ballet training. Unfortunately growing wider and not taller cut short Dawn's ballet career

I have always had a huge amount of respect for Dawn French and so this hub is dedicated to her, in memory of her great comedy achievements, many of which have been put out to pasture recently.

Dawn French was born in 1957, In October 2009 she will be 52 but her infectious personality and beautiful face make her seem much younger. Dawn is rather short and has always been on the plump side but recent years have seen her grow much rounder. I do not say this in a nasty way, but simply as an observation for those who do not yet know and love Dawn. It is merely a basic description but it does not do her justice.

FRENCH AND SAUNDERS

Dawn has been entertaining British audiences for years as part of female, comedy duo French and Saunders. Jennifer Saunders is the perfect working partner for Dawn. Their comedy partnership stems from their time playing the comedy circuit and they fall into that genre, alternative comedy. However at times they are anything but alternative, as they can appear as good old fashioned slapstick.

There was a time when French and Saunders were regularly seen on British Television and there was also the occasional TV special. However French and Saunders have finally hung up their funny faces and retired from this act. No faliing out just simply that it is time for them to move on.

Among their hilarious acts they would often parody well known films such as Titanic and performers of the past and present. Seeing these two impersonate people such as Slash and Axl Rose, Dawn playing Slash, is just so funny. I do not know what it is but despite their lack of physical resemblance these two always manage to imitate to perfection.

French and Saunders have recently completed their final tour before throwing in the towel. However I was lucky enough to see them a fair few years ago.

FRENCH AND SAUNDERS LIVE

We booked tickets for the French and Saunders show at our local City Hall. By this time these two were pretty famous in the UK. Hubby and I were accompanied by his sister and her husband.

French and Saunders were supported by Raw Sex which was a male comedy duo, Simon Brint and Rowland Rivron. The guys preferred the act Raw Sex which was very funny, However we girls absolutely loved French and Saunders. From the moment Dawn stepped onto the stage I laughed. The laughter grew and I continued laughing more and more. My sister-in law laughed and eventually we became almost hysterical. I guess to enjoy some of the humour of French and Saunders you needed to be female. I say this as our partners kept looking at us as if we were insane.

Finally I thought I might die from lack of air. I could not catch my breath between laughing and my sides ached so much. Much of French and Sunders act had already been seen by us on TV but in the flesh these ladies were so much funnier. A glance, a movement is all it takes for Dawn to reduce me to a giggling wreck.

THE VICAR OF DIBLEY

For quite a few years now Dawn and Jen have been involved in separate projects. Jennifer Saunders has had the highly successful Absolutely Fabulous or as it is also known Ab Fab and Dawn as had The Vicar of Dibley.

The Vicar of Dibley is a half hour comedy TV series which features a village coming to terms with its new vicar, the larger than life Geraldine, played by Dawn French. As a rather old fashioned parish, a female vicar is hard for them to accept. From its humble start The Vicar Of Dibley became a runaway success on British TV and is now regularly shown as a re-run.

DEAR FATTY

So as I have already said Dawn has now written a book. It is full of personal information regarding Dawn all written in the form of letters. Of course, not everything about Dawn will be in the book, but there is enough to get a feel for the girl, the woman, the mother, the daughter, the wife and the comedienne.

Dear Fatty is interspersed with a wide range of photographs from Dawn's personal and public life.

THE FUTURE

When Dawn was writing her memoirs she told press that she was moving to Cornwall in order to die. I certainly hope it was just her quirky sense of humour telling the intrusive press to sod off. Dawn has said though that she feels she will not make old bones.

Dawn lives in a huge rambling home in Cornwall, these days with her husband of 25 years, comedian Lenny Henry and their beloved daughter.

Among her many projects Dawn has an online store selling stylish affordable clothes for ladies size 16 and above.

I, for one, hope that we have not seen the last of Dawn as far as comedy goes. Well in fact as far as anything goes. For now I shall just have to settle for some of her best funny moments on DVD and the occasional appearance on British television..