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THE LAST LAUGH: French and Saunders are at The Mayflower this week as part of their final stand-up tour.

SO it was goodbye from them. After 30 years as the greatest female comedy double act of all time, French and Saunders have decided to hang up their props for good at the end of one last jaunt around the UK.

Southampton has been treated to two nights of silliness and sketches from three decades, some old some new, from those doyennes of comedy before they go their separate ways.

Not that they have been joined at the hip all that time anyway of course.

One of the themes of this hilarious trip down memory lane is their rivalry over the success of their solo projects.

Jennifer Saunders boasts she is considered a comedy goddess for her role as mum from hell Edina in Absolutely Fabulous. Everyone knows you're a cult, Dawn French retaliates.

A rare glimpse of the first ever Ab Fab sketch, with French as long-suffering daughter Saffy is a real treat.

Later in the show, French introduces us to a giant Geraldine Grainger while casually dropping in that Vicar of Dibley Christmas viewing figures once reached 18 million. A snorting Saunders promises she is not laughing at the show - she never has and isn't about to start now.

But there's plenty more to the show than the pair's teasing rivalry. A sold out Mayflower audience were thrilled to see some old favourite TV sketches mixed with impressions, jokes, dancing and a wonderful scene in which chocoholic French attacks sweet eaters in the auditorium.

An enjoyable rendition of Abba classic Thank You For The Music, followed by a montage of multi-media clips, was a fitting end to an amusing show and an enjoyable era for fans of French and Saunders.

It's just a shame our very last glimpse of them was as two rather bizarre dirty old men relieving themselves up against a wall. Thirty wonderful years, and a fantastic finale, warranted a far greater encore.

There is standing room only for tonight's show. Box office: 023 8071 1811

11:28am Tuesday 15th April 2008

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Entertainments editor Lorelei Reddin Tel:023 8042 4877 Email: lorelei.reddin@soton-echo.co.uk