Jennifer Saunders opens up about her and Dawn French's botched attempt to take drugs - leaving Claudia Winkleman shocked on her new BBC chat show.

The much-loved comedian, 67, is among the inaugural guests on The Claudia Winkleman Show.

In the episode, which is airing tonight (March 13), Jennifer reveals her and comedy partner Dawn's, 68, botched plan to take ecstasy.

She shares: 'Dawn and I once thought we'd be really daring, and we got an ecstasy tablet.'

The Absolutely Fabulous star elaborates by saying how she and Dawn one day decided to share the pill, when they were alone.

Jennifer explains: 'We kept it on Dawn's mantlepiece and one day – about six months later – we thought, 'Okay, we're ready.'

After getting their water, the duo prepared to take the pill, only to make an unexpected discovery.

Jennifer says: 'We didn't know what to expect at all and….the pill had gone!', describing it as 'quite a relief'.

Having originally met at drama school in the 1970s, the pair starred in popular BBC sketch show French and Saunders from 1987 to 2007. 

Joining Jennifer on Claudia's sofa is Hollywood actor Jeff Goldblum, singer and actress Vanessa Williams and comedian Tom Allen.

The BBC previously dropped a first-look at the programme, with Claudia sat alongside her panellists in a series of snaps.

Meanwhile, a sneak peek clip saw Claudia in the studio, joking it was 'an error' the BBC had given her a self-titled show.

She told fans: 'Hello, they've given me a talk show - agreed, an error. Here's some information, there is an audience, they're lovely, and brilliant guests. It might be excruciating.'

A show synopsis reads: 'A brand-new series packed with celebrity guests, hilarious stories and Claudia's trademark warmth and wit – all in front of a live studio audience.'

It comes after Claudia mocked her own use of fake tan as she advertised the series with a teaser clip, slapping orange paint on her face and joking, 'I'm ready!'.

In a trailer for the series, the former Strictly Come Dancing host could be seen placing small oranges inside a bucket of gloop as she joked the colour 'isn't orange enough' for her liking.

'Yes, just still not orange enough...' as she checked the colour of the paint, before continuing: 'Hi, it's Claud here. I have a new show, I am really getting prepared.

'They want me to tell you it starts on Friday the 13th, well, I've had a good run.'

Putting the paint of her face and pouting towards the camera, Claudia concluded before walking off screen: 'Yep, I'm ready.'

Speaking about her new gig, Claudia said previously: 'I can't quite believe it and I’m incredibly grateful to the BBC for this amazing opportunity.

'I'm obviously going to be awful, that goes without saying, but I'm over the moon they’re letting me try.'

Elsewhere, the new chat show has a strict rule for everyone in the studio audience - as BBC bosses revealed exactly what 'they don't want to see'. 

TV audience company SRO Audiences, who release tickets for various popular programmes in the UK, has shared a specific rule that the audience have to follow.

Their website states: 'We’re asking everyone to dress to impress – we don’t want to see any tracksuits or puffer gilets; we’d like to look out at a sea of people dressed for a big night out with Claudia!'

'The Claudia Winkleman Show will see Claudia showcasing her contagious charm to interview both Hollywood stars and the best of British.

'But celebrities are not the only people Claudia is embracing on this show, she will also be conversing with the audience, so if you want the opportunity to have a chat with Claudia and possibly be on TV, then this is the show for you,' their website adds.

SRO Audiences also sells tickets for Paul Sinha's Perfect Pub Quiz, Have I Got News For You, The Martin Lewis Money Show Live, Mock The Week, The Last Leg, The Jonathan Ross Show, The Chase Celebrity Specials, Taskmaster and The Graham Norton Show.