Pop Specs, darling (Picture: BBC)
Dragons Den fans weren’t expecting a bizarre Absolutely Fabulous crossover when they tuned into the first episode of series 21 tonight.
There was much confusion online when a duo appeared in front of the formidable panel and pitched their business, Pop Specs.
Now where have we heard that before?
Peter Jones, Touker Suleyman, Deborah Meaden, Steven Bartlett and Sara Davies didn’t clock the reference – but beady-eyed fans on X, formerly Twitter, did.
Go back to the 90s, and the Absolutely Fabulous writers had already thought of this particular business name in the fictional world of the iconic sitcom starring Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley.
You might remember a scene in which Edina Monsoon – expertly portrayed by Jennifer – drawls on to her long-suffering (and much more sensible) daughter Saffie about Pop Specs, a company she, ahem, represents.
Dragon’s Den took an unexpected Absolutely Fabulous turn tonight (Picture: BBC)
They are sitting on the kitchen table as Saffie asks, ‘What are Pop Specs?’
‘What are Pop Specs?!” Eddie fires back angrily, before asking: ‘Are you dead? Are you dead? These are them!’ as she holds up some flimsy, ridiculous glasses with colourful lenses that pop up and down, much like flip-up sunglasses (but far less useful).
‘Look darling, these are Pop Specs!’ she explains, gesturing the genius of the lens going in and out, as she explains how she is going to ‘up-market’ them with the help of her partner in crime, Patsy, played by Joanna, with an advert in a magazine.
Fans were quick to reference the iconic scene, as @davidac85 posted a Gif of the moment and quoted, ‘Pop Specs darling,’ Eddie’s catchphrase.
Another X user, @billythebrit, posted a picture of Jennifer as Eddie in the glasses, and wrote: ‘Pop Specs? Why does this ring a bell?’
‘I do hope Edina is getting her cut for them stealing her idea!’ joked @MattBuckeridge, while @andrewmcbchimed in: ‘Edina Monsoon invented & copyrighted Pop Specs.’
What an icon Jennifer Sauncers’ Eddie is (Picture: BBC)
You know… Pop Specs?! (Picture: BBC)
The Dragons were impressed with the pitch (Picture: BBC)
‘How original Pop Specs Edina will be fuming,’ said @scouseKate7.
While Absolutely Fabulous’ Pop Specs were a terrible idea, these business-savvy Dragon’s Den hopefuls had a pretty brilliant concept behind their (very real) company.
Founded by Lina and Dan in 2020, Pop Specs aims to provide stylish and affordable prescription glasses.
But there’s a big catch – they can be fitted in just 20 minutes. Anyone with glasses will know this is big news.
The duo, who met at the University of Chester, opened their first kiosk in Manchester’s Trafford Centre and have since expanded to ten further locations across the country.
The company offers a range of frames, with single vision glasses from £75 and varifocals from £195.
Daniel and Lina were made offers by Touker, Peter Jones and Sara Davies. They agreed 4% each in return for £25,000 each investment in the already thriving business.
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She would be livid.