Dawn French recalls ‘horrifyingly scary’ time she met the Queen Mother, with the moment leaving her ‘fuming’ and convinced the royal was a ‘witch’
Dawn French has recalled the “terribly scary” moment she met the late Queen Mother at the age of four, and the comedian claims the moment left her “furious”.
Actress Dawn, 66, met Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother – who died in 2002 aged 101 – when she visited her father’s army base.
She said she had prepared a moment in advance, practicing protocol for meeting a royal, but was left stunned as the Queen Mother’s ‘brown’ teeth left Dawn thinking she was a ‘witch’.
During an appearance on This Morning on Friday, Dawn explained: “I was four years old. It was terribly scary.
“We practiced bowing.” She came to my father’s military base. I expected unicorns and crowns, and neither appeared. I get angry.
Lasting memory: Dawn French, 66, recalled the ‘horribly scary’ moment she met the late Queen Mother aged four, with the star claiming the moment was ‘furious’ behind her (pictured by Dawn on Friday Morning)
Special moment: Actress Dawn met Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother – who died in 2002 aged 101 – when she visited her father’s army base (Queen Mother pictured in November 1961)
“A woman in a lilac dress smiled at me and her teeth were brown.”
“When you have four, it’s a witch.” I wouldn’t talk to her.’
Meanwhile, Dawn turned heads on Friday morning with a badge that hilariously read ‘#1 TV*T’ to promote her new book.
After appearing on BBC Radio 2 on Friday, Dawn was seen leaving the studio with a walking stick for the first time in years, raising questions about her health.
She was photographed with a cane for the first time in 2009 after a problem with her right leg.
Zora has yet to speak about why the staff reappeared.
Screen star Dawn released her autobiography, The Tv*t Files: a hilarious kind of memoir about mistakes, mishaps and messes, this month.
It detailed the reason why she suddenly decided to leave French & Saunders, her hit show with best friend Jennifer Saunders.
Shocked: Dawn left stunned as Queen Mother’s ‘brown’ teeth left her thinking she was a ‘witch’
Dawn recalls that the ‘breaking point’ came during the taping of a sketch with pop star Anastasia.
Dawn and Jennifer filmed a scene in the toilets of the BBC building, with Dawn seen describing her fantasy of Anastasia hearing her sing and inviting her to come on Top of the Pops with her.
Anastasia acts in a skit, eavesdropping on the conversation. Cut to Dawn in the signature look of the cowgirl pop star who sings with the TOTP star.
Dawn writes in her new book that seeing herself in the costume was the moment she decided to leave the show. “I’ve honestly never felt so ugly.” I have often willingly, happily been ‘ugly’ for hundreds of sketches.
“I never minded how something looked, as long as it served the joke well.” The mirror made it clear to me why this was so painfully disgusting. Because the joke was on me.’
By: Meanwhile, Dawn turned heads on Friday morning with a badge that hilariously emblazoned ‘#1 TV*T’ to promote a new book
New addition: The comedian was spotted with a walking stick for the first time in years, prompting questions about her health
After she finished filming for the day, Dawn says she “burst into hot, angry tears. I duly sobbed the entire 28 miles home before calling Jennifer and telling her she wanted to end their show.
Speaking with TimesDawn insisted her best friend didn’t try to dissuade her, explaining: ‘Jennifer would never fight me in something that big.
‘She’s now saying, ‘What the hell were you thinking? We could have easily fixed that.’ But that wasn’t a problem.’
As for herself, she has never regretted her decision and added: ‘I think it’s time to move on to another chapter, and you need to know when that’s going to happen.’
Smash hit: Dawn recently reflected on the sudden end of her hit BBC show French & Saunders (pictured with comedy partner Jennifer Saunders on the show)
French and Saunders began working together when they met in their early twenties in 1978, and their self-titled sketch show first aired on BBC Two in 1987.
Rick Astley, 57, also appeared on BBC Radio 2’s Zoe Balls on Friday.
He wore a black top and jacket with khaki pants and matching trousers.
His appearance comes after he revealed in September that he had left home after being hit by his father.
Not alone: Rick Astley, 57, also appeared on Zoe Ball’s BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show on Friday wearing a black top and jacket with khaki trousers and matching trousers