Jennifer Saunders has commended her Absolutely Fabulous co-star Dawn French for her 'beautiful' new figure as she joked the slimmed-down actress is now smaller than her.

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Jennifer Saunders joked that she is now 'the fat one' of the comedy duo (Picture: XPOSUREPHOTOS.COM)

Unveiling her new head of hair post her battle with breast cancer two years ago for the Music Industry Trusts Awards, Saunders heaped praise on Dawn who has shed six and a half stone in the last 19 months.

The 54-year-old Vicar of Dibley actress, famous during her acting career for her voluptuous curves, shocked fans with her new slimmer figure at the Galaxy National Book Awards in London on Sunday.
Her name quickly became a trending topic on Twitter as users shared their thoughts on her new look.
But although Dawn was once always the largest of the two Ab Fab ladies, Saunders showed no signs of female rivalry to her former colleague as she said: 'Dawn is smaller than me now.
'She is this big [indicating three inches with her hand] – as big as a small fawn. She is so happy at the moment. She looks really, really beautiful.'

Before and after: Dawn French has lost four stone in recent months, looking far slimmer than she did in 2005

Jennifer was at the event, held at London's Grosvenor House Hotel, to support her close pal Jools Holland who was given the gong for his contribution to music and broadcasting over three decades.

The comedienne was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2009 but only revealed her battle after she was given the all clear in July the following year.

Speaking in a recent magazine interview of her battle, she said: ‘I am feeling back to normal... the funny thing is, and we can talk about it now, but honestly I’ve forgotten I had it. I look back and think, “I can’t believe that actually happened”.
‘Apart from the fact that I have to take some medication now, I don’t feel like a person who’s been through it.’

But it's clear Miss Saunders has no intention to slow things down as she revealed the Spice Girls musical, which she has been tasked with writing, will be unveiled next year.