Dawn French gets puppet to replace Jennifer Saunders

COMIC Dawn French is returning to the stage in a new double act - with a puppet.

She said she came up with the idea because she wanted to continue touring but partner Jennifer Saunders did not.

She said: "I can't resist it. I don't think Jennifer wants to, so no more French and Saunders touring, but I want to do a one-woman show. In fact I'm planning one now and I've got to write it and I want to do it with a puppet. They are called Handspring Puppets, the ones who made puppets for War Horse, serious puppets."