JOANNA LUMLEY

Apart from her impressive filmography, Lumley spends a good deal of time on several other ventures, including her notable charity work, very well-made documentaries, and cars. Lumley’s first love was a 1949 Rolls Royce Silver Wraith, and she once stalked a Bentley Continental, even leaving a note to the car to convince its owner to let her buy it. Her charity work focuses on the Gurkhas of Nepal and their rights to settle in Britain as a result of their service to the country. Following the awareness raised by her campaign, there were calls for her to join British Parliament. Other than Jeremy Clarkson (let’s not go there yet) I can’t think of any other celebrities that have that kind of support.

But some of her best work has to be her documentaries. These include ‘Nile,’ ‘Greek Odyssey,’ and ‘Trans-Siberian Adventure’. They’re well-made and written, with Lumley's soft voice a soothing narration. But what sets these films apart is how Lumley experiences the places she visits. Unlike some other presenters, who either remain at arm’s length, or make the visit all about them, Lumley makes it about the place and its people. It becomes personal, and somehow inspires you to see the place yourself in a way that a travel show probably won’t. If you watch no other pieces of Lumley’s work, at least watch ‘Nile’, because it’s really very good.

Lumely might be turning 70 on the 1st May 2016, but that doesn’t seem to be slowing her down. Hopefully after ‘Ab Fab: The Movie’ we’ll see more fabulous docos and more to make us smile.