'Joanna Lumley: My Best Bits - In My Own Words' coming to Channel 5
Joanna Lumley is the subject of a forthcoming Channel 5 documentary, British Comedy Guide can exclusively reveal.
Featuring interviews with Lumley and her Absolutely Fabulous co-stars Jane Horrocks and Helen Lederer, plus the likes of Ruby Wax and Roger Allam, the two-hour retrospective Joanna Lumley: My Best Bits - In My Own Words, will trace the most memorable roles of her acting career.
"To see most of one's professional life flashing before one's eyes is a thrill, especially when punctuated by kind comments from beloved friends" said Lumley. "The programme was a joy to make, and a very rare privilege for me to revisit my work, much of which I hadn't seen for decades. I loved every second of telling my story In My Own Words."
Alongside Wax discussing Lumley's contributions to her early 90s BBC talk show The Full Wax and Allam reflecting on their Radio 4 comedy Conversations From A Long Marriage, the film also features Lumley's memories of making secret agent sequel The New Avengers, David McCallum recalling working with Lumley on the sci-fi fantasy series Sapphire & Steel and Bill Roache on her brief stint in Coronation Street in 1973, in which she played his character Ken Barlow's girlfriend.
"Dame Joanna is much-loved by our audience and it has been an absolute delight to work with her to create this wonderful celebration of her career for Channel 5 viewers" said Greg Barnett, commissioning editor for factual entertainment at Channel 5 and Paramount+.
The documentary is produced and directed by Grant Philpott and executive produced by Mark Wells, creative director for Double Yellow Television (French & Saunders: Funny Women). Wells added: "It was a privilege to work with Joanna on this programme as she recounted memories from her extraordinary career... and what a career! I know viewers will love hearing her very candid recollections of how it was for her."
Joanna Lumley: My Best Bits - In My Own Words will be broadcast on Sunday 16th April at 9pm.