How Jennifer Saunders and Ade Edmondson got together after years of friendship
Smokers are jokers, as they say.
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Jennifer Saunders and Adrian 'Ade' Edmondson are a match made in comedy heaven.
Married since 1985 and parents to three daughters in Ella, Beattie and Freya, their reputations precede them thanks to associations with iconic sitcoms Absolutely Fabulous and The Young Ones, but what's the story behind their long-lasting union?
In his brand-new autobiography, Berserker!, Edmondson recalls being good pals with Saunders on the alternative comedy circuit in the 1980s, although they were dating other people at the time.
"It was [love at first sight] for me," he claims.
"You'd have to ask Jennifer how she felt. I grew up at a boys school and never learnt to talk to women. I was always a bit on the back foot."
The deal was ultimately sealed by Saunders, though, who one day slid an empty cigarette box under her future husband's windscreen wiper, which Edmondson still keeps to this day.
A note on the packet read: "I love you, Adrian. Love Jennifer."
Further into the memoir, Edmondson also discusses how childhood inspired his approach to parenthood.
"My rule has been, 'What would Dad do? Don't do that'. Encourage them to do what they want. Don't denigrate things you don't understand," he revealed.
Read more: Adrian Edmondson says he has dealt with suicidal thoughts for his whole life
As for why the 66-year-old chose to entitle his published life story Berserker!, Edmondson told The Guardian that he's "always had a weird notion I was a Viking".
"I lived near York, or Jorvik as the Vikings called it, and my name is Edmondson, so it has obviously got a slight Scandi root," he explained.
"But the definition of 'berserk', as someone who's wild and frenzied and off their t*** on alcohol and henbane, seems to be a version of what I was in my youth. I was desperate for excitement."
Watch: Jennifer Saunders is 'slightly dreading' the Fawlty Towers revival
