Joanna Lumley: Absolutely Fabulous's Patsy Is Transgender

It’s always been rumoured – with titillating hints here and there – but now it’s official: Patsy Stone is transgender.

Joanna Lumley has confirmed that her character from BBC sitcom ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ was once a man.

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She told V magazine: “You go back and pick through it, the amount of gay references and ease with which it’s been put into the story, without it being dragged along like a great log of plot.

“It’s really normal that one of Edina’s ex-husbands now lives with his young boyfriend.

“It’s completely normal that Edina wants Saffy to be a lesbian or that Serge is gay and living in New York.

“It’s completely normal that Patsy is transgender.”

Patsy’s past as a man is something that Jennifer Saunders’ character Eddy Monsoon has referred to in the show in the past, notably the time in Morocco in 1971 when Patsy was said to have had a sex change operation.

There was also flashback scene in the fifth series of the show, broadcast in 2003, where Patsy is show with a moustache.

The long-awaited movie of the classic BBC sitcom is poised for release, and it’s a star-heavy affair.

Among the cameos are appearances from Jon Hamm, Rebel Wilson, Barry Humphries, Joan Collins, Lulu, Stella McCartney and Jeremy Paxman.

Returning characters from the show include Kathy Burke as Magda, Helen Lederer as Catriona, Harriet Thorpe as Fleur, Celia Imrie as Claudia Bing, Mo Gaffney as Bo, alongside Julia Sawalha as Saffron, Jane Horrocks as Bubble and June Whitfield as Eddy’s mum.

The plot centres around Eddy accidentally killing Kate Moss, becoming a pariah in the UK and having to flee for the south of France.

'Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie’ is out on July 1.

Image credits: Fox