Tour news: Dawn French to bring live show to NZ

Dawn French is "sick" with excitement about her upcoming New Zealand visit.

British comedy superstar Dawn French is bringing her new live show to New Zealand, the Herald on Sunday can reveal.

The Vicar of Dibley actor and best-selling author will perform 30 Million Minutes over six nights in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland in March. The show is based on her colourful life and career.

French has fond memories of her last tour here in 2009 with funnywoman partner Jennifer Saunders - after a few drinks, the pair got matching tattoos.

"We are both big fans of New Zealand and we were in Auckland on our very last night," French told Newstalk ZB in an interview to be broadcast this week. "We realised we'd been doing French and Saunders for the best part of 30 years.

"We went out for lunch and were buying presents for the crew. I looked at her and realised we weren't doing French and Saunders any more and how can I buy you a present? A bracelet or a pair of earrings doesn't signify 30 years.

"We were talking about that and walking back to the hotel arm in arm - a little bit merry - and we walked past a tattoo parlour.

"Before I knew it we were in there and we both got a couple of little stars. Thank God that's all we got. I've got them on my wrist and she's got them on her ankle."

Speaking about returning, French beamed: "Don't tell anyone in Australia, but New Zealand is my favourite place after Cornwall. I've been many times and I love it. I just want it to be moved closer to the UK."

Before she heads Downunder, French will work on a movie of TV comedy Absolutely Fabulous with Saunders, due for release next year.

"It's happening this very year," she said. "It started with Jennifer procrastinating for the best part of 10 years. I bet her 100,000 [$237,000] she wouldn't write the film, because she procrastinates so much. The following year, she handed the script to me. It's got Kate Moss in and starts filming in October."

French said she was "sick with excitement" about her visit and promised plenty of laughs.

"I love that I can't categorise it exactly. It's somewhere between a monologue, a play and an autobiographical slide show with a few funnies thrown in."

French will perform at the Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch, March 15-16, Wellington's Opera House, March 21- 22 and Auckland's Civic, March 29-30. Tickets from livenation.co.nz.