One season period BBC sitcom Let Them Eat Cake took us into the court of Louis XVI in 1792 (just seven years before the French revolution) where the Comtesse de Vache (Jennifer Saunders) ruled the roost. Although it was maid Lisette (Dawn French) and manservant Bouffant (Adrian Scarborough) who were the real power. Madame de Plonge (Alison Steadman) and her daughter Eveline were always trying to integrate themselves into Comtesses’ circle.
Despite starring French and Saunders (who for once were not involved in the writing, one of the few occasions they would together on something they hadn’t written) as well as a generally stellar cast and despite channeling a distinctly Blackadder vibe Let Them Eat Cake didn’t really make much of an impression and only ran for six episodes.
Cast: Dawn French as Lisette; Jennifer Saunders as Colombine, Comtesse de Vache; Adrian Scarborough as Bouffant; Alison Steadman as Madame de Plonge; Lucy Punch as Eveline; Elizabeth Berrington as Marie Antoinette; Julian Rhind-Tutt as Advisor; James Greene as Comte de Vache
Writer: Peter Learmouth / Producer: Christopher Skala / Director: Christine Gernon
UK / BBC One / 6×30 minute episodes / 9 September – 14 October 1999 Thursdays at 9.30pm
