News about Joanna Lumley

The King and Queen rounded off their visit to Australia with roaring crowds at the Sydney Opera House today as more than 8,000 people gathered to meet them. The couple were marking the iconic venue's 50th anniversary year, and were greeted upon their arrival by New South Wales Premier Chris Minns and his wife Anna. They also met Opera House chair Michael McDaniel, its chief executive Kya Blondin and performers including British actress Joanna Lumley , who has a show there. In addition, Their Majesties posed with Sydney Harbour Bridge as a stunning backdrop and signed the visitors' book on the main concourse of the Opera House - before emerging on the steps to massive cheers as they waved to spectators. But it comes after the King was confronted earlier on for a second day by First Nations activists questioning the supremacy of the British monarchy in Australia.

The nights are drawing in and a chill is in the air. So there's only one solution - cosy nights in front of the TV. From a gloriously naughtly bonkbuster to the return of two comedy favourites from the wacky world of fashion, there's plenty to stream this weekend. Our critics have scoured hundreds of shows to bring you the very best to watch on demand this weekend.

Patsy Stone was a career-defining role for Joanna Lumley. The champagne-addled, chain-smoking, beehive-wearing fashionista in hit 90s sitcom Absolutely Fabulous re-invented her career and launched her second act as a comedy colossus. So it's a huge surprise to discover that Joanna very nearly quit the show before it even got started.

For more than 30 years they have been television's favourite Bollinger-guzzling fashionistas. But Joanna Lumley, 78, and Jennifer Saunders, 66, almost didn't get the chance to play their career-defining roles in Absolutely Fabulous as a BBC comedy boss said he 'didn't find drunk women funny'. In a new BBC documentary, Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out, the sitcom's producer John Plowman revealed: 'We do the pilot and I see Robin Nash, Who was the then head of comedy and I said, 'What do you think?'

It has become a fashionable cause among celebrities from Ricky Gervais to Joanna Lumley and Ranulph Fiennes. Even Queen guitarist, Brian May, has demanded an end to 'this sense-less slaughter'. They are fervent supporters of the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill - legislation that would prevent people from bringing trophies such as heads and hooves into Britain following trips stalking big game in Africa and elsewhere.

The former This Morning presenter, 62, returned to British TV screens on Monday for the first episode of his Channel 5 series Cast Away - where he fends for himself on a remote island paradise, located off the coast of Madagascar. Ahead of jetting off to the island, Phillip received a video message from Abfab actress Joanna - who embarked on her own Madagascar survival quest back in 1994. Joanna shared that Phillip should always keep his 'knives sharp' during his 10 days on the island, as well as urging him not to spend all day trying to find food rather than prioritising food. She also reminisced about her own survival experiment, and how she turned her bra into a pair of shoes.

Holly Willoughby ignored Phillip Schofield's recent 'swipe' as she posed in stunning leggy new snaps on Saturday.  Her ex co-star on This Morning Phillip and his family appeared to mock Holly's famous 'are you ok?' clip as he made his return to TV this week.  The presenter, 62, will appear on Channel 5's Cast Away, set to air on Monday, in  which he thanks Ant McPartlin, 48, and Dec Donnelly, 49, as well as Joanna Lumley, 78, - but fails to mention Holly, 43. 

Phillip Schofield does not mention his former co-star Holly Willoughby in his new TV show Cast Away - but does make multiple swipes at his former colleagues. Despite mentioning ITV Co-stars Ant, 48, and Dec, 49, as well as Joanna Lumley, 78, Miss Willoughby isn't mentioned at all throughout the 45-minute episode. In one outburst which will leave viewers wondering whether it is aimed at her, Schofield says: 'When you throw someone under a bus, you've got to have a really bloody good reason to do it.

Phillip Schofield and his family appeared to mock his former co-star and best friend Holly Willoughby's famous 'are you ok?' clip as he made his return to TV.  The presenter, 62, will appear on Channel 5's Cast Away, set to air on Monday,  in  which he thanks Ant McPartlin, 48, and Dec Donnelly, 49, as well as Joanna Lumley, 78, - but fails to mention Holly, 43.  During the show, he will discuss his bitter parting of ways with ITV and This Morning, which he hosted for 21 years, while fending for himself on a remote island paradise, located off the coast of Madagascar.

Bill Cotton, the head of the BBC 's light entertainment department, was adamant. The department store sitcom Are You Being Served?, an instant hit with viewers, could not be screened without one major change.

The highly anticipated National Television Awards 2024 is returning to screens to celebrate another brilliant year for British TV.

From Wolf Hall's long-awaited final act to a riotous Jilly Cooper romp, these are the upcoming television treats you won't want to miss. Our expert has rounded up the 20 most exciting dramas, thrillers, comedy and true crime shows coming to screens this autumn. So if you're going to be after something new to watch as the nights draw in, look no further...

It is the house where magic and enchantment first took flight in the mind of Peter Pan's creator. A young JM Barrie spent many hours roaming the gardens of Moat Brae in Dumfries engrossed in marvellous games of make-believe with his schoolfriends. Tales of pirates and fairies and 'lost boys' living free from the buttoned-up rules of grown-up society would play out in their own private 'Neverland', among grand cedar and tulip trees and across the lawn sloping down to the River Nith.

She has championed the former Scottish home of Peter Pan author JM Barrie as monument to children's literature. Now Absolutely Fabulous star Dame Joanna Lumley has said she is 'heartbroken' the Dumfries mansion which spawned the famous character is facing imminent closure. The actress is a patron of a trust which helped save Moat Brae and turn it into a hub for reading.

It inspired one of the best-loved works of children's literature and had the backing of such celebrities as Joanna Lumley. However, even support from famous faces was not enough to prevent the closure of the Peter Pan house in Dumfries. The national centre for children's literature at Moat Brae, the mansion where author JM Barrie played as a child and which inspired the story about the boy who never grew up, opened in 2019.

But instead she buys the red Italian roadster as it was 'the smallest car she could find'. Together, Edina and best friend Patsy Stone, played by Joanna Lumley , cause carnage in the Alfa Romeo as they drunkenly drive through the streets of trendy west London to go to a supermarket. The car ends up getting clamped when they park on the pavement directly outside Harvey Nichols in the 1994 episode.

In many ways, the 1990s were the heyday of TV, with the likes of Friends, Sex And The City and The West Wing transforming the television landscpe as we knew it. And the 1990s are everywhere again - so it's a good time to catch up on anything you missed, or even have a nostalgic streaming binge. Here are our selections of the top shows to watch right now...

Amid the King's cancer battle, Her Majesty, who turns 77 today, kept the Royal Family united and stepped up her duties, standing in for her husband as he underwent treatment. Such is her warmth and unquestionable dedication to her duties, she's been nicknamed 'the nation's grandmother', winning praise from well-wishers and members of the Firm alike for her steadfast presence amid a turbulent time. Even as recently as yesterday, Camilla was once again showing her commitment to her role as the King's consort as she arrived in Guernsey sporting a bandaged ankle after suffering a 'slight sprain'. But she refused to let the injury stop her from joining Charles, 75, on the second day of their two-day tour of the Channel Islands.

Poet Henry Birtles was snapped as he attended Royal Ascot with his friend Elizabeth Hurley today. Henry, 57, who was friends with Liz's former fiance the late Shane Ward, has been close to the actress for years. In 2022, the model shared a photo of the two of them rolling around on the floor in Superman and Superwoman costumes. The poet, who looked dapper today in a grey tailcoat, pale blue waistcoat and top hat, is thought to be single after separating from his wife Cathy in 2021. Thanks to his writing, horse lover Henry's nickname is The Racing Poet. his writing, horse lover Henry's nickname is The Racing Poet. Henry, who runs a consultancy specialising in television rights for horse racing called HBA Media, wants to bring horse racing to a wider audience. (Pictured: Henry Birtles and Liz Hurley).

Growing up, I felt lucky to have a mother who recognised what a drawback my Yorkshire accent would be, that it could prevent me from enjoying success in whatever field I chose. It was her life's work to prepare me to rise above my working-class roots. She constantly lectured me about the way I must speak. Nicely was the word she used: 'Not like those young ruffians you try to play with on the street.'

Motherland fans can rejoice as the BBC has revealed that a spin-off focused on the pretentious Amanda will hit screens later this year. Titled Amandaland, the series, will focus on Lucy Punch's character - and her dramatic fall from grace - as she navigates her newly-single status, acid-tongued mother and the challenges of raising two teenagers. The news will not doubt be welcome from fans as it comes 18 months after the last episode of Motherland hit screens in December 2022, and two months after Diane Morgan confirmed the comedy would not return.  

Netflix has announced that season 2 of Wednesday has begun production with a slew of British stars being added to the cast. The streamer took to social media to share a video featuring Thing running through a corridor pulling a wagon full of scripts. The disembodied hand passes doors with the names of the stars of the show, passing out scripts, before arriving at Jenna Ortega's door and doing the classic finger snaps.

Modern mums and dads, bored youngsters in a rural village or unlikely flatmates in their twenties, there are plenty of quirky characters to get to know in classic TV sitcoms. So our critics have selected some of the best of them to watch On Demand right now - sifting through hundreds of options to save you the bother. Can't decide what to watch tonight? Read on to find out which sitcoms will keep you laughing...

Michelle Keegan's career has reached new heights as her Netflix show Fool Me Once has been viewed nearlty 100million times around the world. The actress, 36, stars alongside Joanna Lumley in the thriller, which is an adaptation of Harlan Coben's novel, and shot to the top of the Netflix charts in January.  Netflix revealed on Friday that the show is their biggest UK hit of 2024 so far.