Jennifer Saunders given cancer all-clear

(Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Comedienne Jennifer Saunders has fought a successful battle with breast cancer.

The Absolutely Fabulous star is understood to have found a breast lump around nine months ago and was given the all-clear last month.

Saunders, mother to three daughters, is thought to have discovered the lump in October.

It is said to have been caught early and Saunders has undergone chemotherapy and radiotherapy sessions.

The star, who has been described as being in "very good spirits", fought her cancer battle away from the limelight and has not spoken about it publicly.

The 52-year-old, who is well known for her work with comedy partner Dawn French, was pictured last week at Wimbledon covering her head with a wig and a bandana.

She was also snapped smiling and without the wig at a recent party held by artist Tracey Emin.

Saunders has been married to former Young Ones actor and writer Adrian Edmondson for around 25 years.

They have three daughters, Ella, aged 24, Beatrice, 23, and Freya, who is 19.

Saunders rose to fame in the 1980s with a crop of young "alternative" comedians including Rik Mayall, Alexei Sayle, Peter Richardson and Ben Elton.

Her earlier credits include the Comic Strip Presents..., The Young Ones, and Girls On Top, and she also went on to find huge success in the French and Saunders shows.

Saunders is famed for creating Absolutely Fabulous, starring as outrageously-attired, party-loving PR Edina Monsoon, alongside Joanna Lumley.

The smash hit sit-com followed an episode of French And Saunders which contained a sketch about a sensible daughter and her over-the-top mother.

The well-loved actress also wrote and starred in the comedy drama Jam And Jerusalem for the BBC.

In April last year, Saunders was praised for her glamorous red carpet look at the TV Baftas as she and French were jointly awarded the academy fellowship.

"This is a huge honour and after 30 years it's kind of like the cherry on the icing on the cake," Saunders said at the time.

Around 45,000 women a year are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK.

Eight in 10 are found in women aged 50 and over.