Dawn French has revealed she told a surgeon to take special care of her because she was “a national treasure”.
The Vicar of Dibley star mumbled the words in a daze as she underwent an operation under anesthesia which she said was “female in nature”.
But she didn’t know what she had said until the surgeon told her after the procedure – to her continued horror.
Describing her embarrassment after returning from surgery, the 66-year-old said: “The surgeon came in and said: ‘Everything went very well.’ I said: ‘Isn’t that amazing, anesthesia?’
“He said, ‘Do you remember what you said to me?’ I said, “I thought I was counting backwards, didn’t I?”
Dawn French has revealed she told a surgeon to take special care of her because she was “a national treasure”.
“He said, ‘Yeah, but you said it to me at the very last minute…’ – I’m embarrassed to admit this – I said, ‘I’m a national treasure, no pressure!’ ”
Reflecting on the harrowing moment, French added: “Imagine saying that about yourself!” How disgusting. I don’t even believe that.
“Why did I say that? I just wanted him to be extra careful.
“It’s a major disinhibitor, a narcotic, and I’m ashamed.” Luckily he laughed – he said, “Yeah, that got me going.” How embarrassing, how disgusting.’
Dawn confessed her mistake to her comedy partner Jennifer Saunders on her podcast “French & Saunders: Titting About.”
She admitted her mistake to comedy partner Jennifer Saunders on her podcast “French & Saunders: Titting About.”
French also described showering a nurse with praise as she awoke from anesthesia.
She said: “The next thing I know I’m waking up and I’m in the recovery room and there’s a lovely nurse right next to me helping me recover.” When I woke up from the anesthesia I suddenly had this feeling , that I had to be in love with her somehow.
“I said, ‘What’s your name, I love you, thank you for taking care of me. I don’t know what you did to deserve this job or anything, but I’ll never be able to thank you enough.’ for all the things you do for me, for everything you do to help me now. I’m not dying because of you.
“I’m not cold because of you.”‘
On the same podcast, Saunders revealed how her husband, Young Ones star Adrian Edmondson, had a vasectomy and was assured by the doctor that the practice respected the confidentiality of its celebrity patients.
He then dashed that promise by revealing that the late Sir Michael Parkinson had undergone an operation a few days earlier.