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Daily Record
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
King Charles 'really ill' says Joanna Lumley as she shares health insight
Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumley has opened up on King Charles' cancer battle as she praised the future monarch for his 'extraordinary' legacy. King Charles has been praised as "exceptionally brave" amid his health battles, after his cancer diagnosis in February last year. Dame Joanna Lumley has gave an insight on the monarch, who she described as being "really ill" in a new interview. The Absolutely Fabulous icon, 79, who is known for being a passionate royalist, heaped praise on Charles. Dame Joanna was honoured with her damehood three years ago by Princess Anne, for her services to drama, entertainment, and charity. Speaking to Saga Magazine, she revealed: "He's exceptionally brave, because he really is ill, but practically nobody can keep up with him. He packs so much into every day, he walks faster than anybody I've ever met - he's incredible." However Joanna's admiration for the King dates back many years, as she expressed Charles already had made his mark and a lasting legacy long before he took the crown, according to reports in the Mirror. She stated: "He was the most brilliant Prince of Wales we will ever see, without being cruel to Prince William, because he had the role for so long. The Prince's Trust was set up when he was in his twenties - what a far-thinking thing to do!" After meeting both Charles and Queen Camilla in person previously, Joanna described the monarch as a "golden, fabulous person". The actress claimed she believed that the media had championed Diana during the royal pair's marriage troubles, observing that "so much mud was flung" at Camilla Parker Bowles, who has now became Queen. She added: "But now she goes about her job without any rancour." Joanna was awarded an OBE in the 1995 New Year Honours List before claiming her Dame title 27 years later. Dame Joanna expressed that finding out the news through a letter left her in tears, as she reflected on the overwhelming moment she will never forget. The 2022 honours marked the last New Year's awards handed out by the late Queen Elizabeth II before her sad passing nine months later, following her Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Giving insight into the late Queen, she commented: "She left so gracefully, remaining upright and swearing in Liz Truss as Prime Minister until the very last minute. We never saw her use a wheelchair, even though she was very frail. She was compos mentis, then she went to her bed and died." Joanna published her book A Queen for All Seasons: A Celebration of Queen Elizabeth II back in 2021. She told Jonathan Ross that it included stories from people who had met her throughout her reign, from figures like Winston Churchill to children who gave her flowers on the street. One story came from rock star Rob Halford from Judas Priest, with Joanna revealing: "He went to Buckingham Palace and heard the queen say 'heavy metal.' He said 'I never believed I'd hear The Queen say the words heavy metal.'". Meanwhile, Joanna has also been in the spotlight recently after expressing support for assisted dying, stating she wouldn't want to continue living if left unable to speak or recognise her loved ones.
Daily Mirror
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Joanna Lumley says King Charles 'really is ill' as she shares rare health battle insight
Joanna Lumley has shared her deep admiration for King Charles and offered a rare insight into how the monarch is handing his health battle after being diagnosed with cancer last year Absolutely Fabulous legend Dame Joanna Lumley, a devoted royalist, has showered King Charles with glowing praise - describing the monarch as being "exceptionally brave". The 79-year-old actress, who received her damehood three years ago, offered the glowing tribute while discussing Charles' ongoing health struggles, following his cancer diagnosis in February 2024. Speaking to Saga Magazine, she said: "He's exceptionally brave, because he really is ill, but practically nobody can keep up with him. He packs so much into every day, he walks faster than anybody I've ever met - he's incredible." Yet Joanna's deep respect for Charles stretches back decades, as she insisted he had already established an extraordinary legacy well before ascending to the throne. She declared: "He was the most brilliant Prince of Wales we will ever see, without being cruel to Prince William, because he had the role for so long. The Prince's Trust was set up when he was in his twenties - what a far-thinking thing to do!" Having encountered both Charles and Queen Camilla personally, Joanna described the latter as a "golden, fabulous person". The veteran performer claimed the press had backed Diana throughout the Royal couple's marital troubles, noting that "so much mud was flung" at the woman then known as Camilla Parker Bowles. She added: "But now she goes about her job without any rancour." Joanna received an OBE in the 1995 New Year Honours List before securing her Dame title 27 years later. She revealed discovering the news through a letter left her in floods of tears during an unforgettable moment that proved completely overwhelming. The 2022 honours were the final New Year's awards distributed by Queen Elizabeth II before her death nine months later, following her Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Offering a glimpse into the late monarch, she remarked: "She left so gracefully, remaining upright and swearing in Liz Truss as Prime Minister until the very last minute. We never saw her use a wheelchair, even though she was very frail. She was compos mentis, then she went to her bed and died." In 2021, Joanna released a book titled A Queen for All Seasons: A Celebration of Queen Elizabeth II. She explained to Jonathan Ross that it featured stories from individuals who had encountered her throughout her reign - ranging from figures like Winston Churchill to children who presented her with flowers on the street. One tale came from rock legend Rob Halford from Judas Priest, with Joanna revealing: "He went to Buckingham Palace and heard the queen say 'heavy metal.' He said 'I never believed I'd hear The Queen say the words heavy metal.'" Meanwhile, Joanna has also attracted attention recently after voicing support for assisted dying - stating she wouldn't wish to continue living if left unable to speak or recognise her loved ones.
Daily Mirror
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Carol Kirkwood planning to retire from BBC in two years to travel with husband
BBC Weather presenter Carol Kirkwood has revealed her plans to travel around Europe with her second husband, who is 13 years younger than her BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood has revealed she intends to retire in a couple of years when she hits 65 - and take off around Europe with her toyboy husband. The 63-year-old has been a fixture on BBC Breakfast for the past 27 years. But dropping hints she's not going to make her 30th anniversary of predicting sunshine and showers, Carol confessed that she and husband Steve Randall are planning to head off into the sunset. 'We fell in love with Majorca, which is where we went so I could research my fifth novel, Meet Me at Sunset, about a woman running away from a shattered love affair,' she explained. 'Steve and I also plan to escape and travel for some time when we retire, perhaps in a year or two. We'll either travel in a camper van, or get in the car, cross over to France and just drive.' Carol has built up an army of fans over the decades, and her decision to quit when she hits normal retirement age will sadden many viewers. The TV star said that being older than her husband, a policeman, doesn't bother her. She told Saga Magazine: 'Steve is 50 this year. Other people's opinions about an age gap don't matter – I don't feel he is younger than me.' The weather expert married Steve at Cliveden House two years ago, with just themselves in attendance. She said that finding him, when she wasn't looking for love, had been down to pure luck. "Meeting my husband Steve was fate,' she explained to Saga Magazine. 'We were at a function neither of us wanted to go to. It was a Sliding Doors moment – if I hadn't gone, we would never have met. "We chatted, he gave me his number, and ages later, we met for coffee. He was only a friend before we became involved. I wasn't looking for a romance; I was happy being single. After a 25-year marriage, I needed to find myself.' Carol was married to property developed Jimmy Kirwood for 18 years from 1990 and described their divorce as 'devastating' at the time. But since settling down with Steve, she has told how contended she feels. Last year she declared: 'Love is lovelier the second time around. No disrespect to my first husband, but this is better." She said that Steve proposed on a riverbank near their home in Berkshire. 'Although we'd talked about getting married, it still came as a shock,' she admitted. "Our wedding at Cliveden House was the most perfect day. Storm Gerrit was raging outside and we didn't even notice. It was about us getting married rather than having a big, fancy wedding. We had no guests and wrote our own vows, which was really emotional. When you are older, you know more what you want." Born in Morar, Inverness-shire to hotelier parents, Carol is one of eight siblings. After graduating from what is now Edinburgh Napier University with a degree in commerce, Carol joined the BBC as a secretary in London. By 1993 she was working as a freelance presenter and three years later she joined The Weather Channel. When it closed down she underwent training at the Met Office before joining BBC News in 1998. She is now the main weather presenter on BBC Breakfast, remaining in London when the show moved to Salford in 2012.
Daily Mirror
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Joanna Lumley recalls tearful moment she received mystery letter from Buckingham Palace
The actress and campaigner was named a Dame in the New Year's Honours in 2022, the last list to be issued by the late Queen Elizabeth II before her death in September of that year. Joanna Lumley, a devoted royalist and tireless charity supporter, was over the moon when she was appointed an OBE in the 1995 New Year Honours List. However, when an "official-looking" letter arrived at Joanna 's doorstep seven years later, she was somewhat apprehensive. The Absolutely Fabulous actress confessed to Saga Magazine: "My heart sank because I thought it would say I'd been parking on the wrong side of the street. Then I opened it and was completely overwhelmed. I blubbed." She revealed that the letter, from Buckingham Palace, informed her she was to be made a Dame. Joanna added: "I was terribly moved. I don't think you should be rewarded for charity stuff - you do it because you love to help - but it was a big deal." Joanna remembers that the 2022 awards were the final New Year's Honours bestowed by the late Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen passed away nine months later in September 2022 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, after celebrating her Platinum Jubilee marking her record-breaking 70-year reign. Joanna remarked: "She left so gracefully, remaining upright and swearing in Liz Truss as Prime Minister until the very last minute. We never saw her use a wheelchair, even though she was very frail. She was compos mentis, then she went to her bed and died." Joanna has penned a book titled 'A Queen for All Seasons: A Celebration of Our One and Only Queen Elizabeth II on Her Platinum Jubilee', which compiles anecdotes from individuals who had the privilege of meeting the late monarch during her long reign. In conversation with Jonathan Ross, she revealed that these stories were gathered "from all kinds of people from very grand statesmen people like Ban Ki-moon and Khrushchev and Winston Churchill, right down to little kids who saw her passing by in the street and were allowed to go and give their flowers." She highlighted one particular tale from Rob Halford, the lead vocalist of rock band Judas Priest: "He went to Buckingham Palace and heard the queen say 'heavy metal.' He said 'I never believed i'd hear The Queen say the words heavy metal.'" Speaking to Saga, Joanna also expressed her immense admiration for the King: "He was the most brilliant Prince of Wales we will ever see," she stated. Noting that the King held the title of Prince Of Wales for over 64 years, she emphasised that his cancer diagnosis hasn't hindered him from fulfilling his Royal duties: "He's exceptionally brave, because he really is ill, but practically nobody can keep up with him. "He packs so much into every day, he walks faster than anybody I've ever met - he's incredible." Joanna noted that during his time as Prince Of Wales, he experienced "a dark, dark time" when the media sided with Princess Diana against him: "So much mud was flung at the new Queen when she was Camilla Parker Bowles, but now she just goes about her job without any rancour. She's a golden, fabulous person."
Daily Mirror
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Joanna Lumley backs assisted dying and reveals exactly when she 'wouldn't mind saying farewell'
The 79-year-old star said she supports the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which was backed by MPs last month and is heading for the Lords this autumn Actress Dame Joanna Lumley has spoken out in favour of assisted dying, saying she would not want to carry on if she couldn't talk or eat or recognise her loved ones. The 79-year-old star said she supports the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which was backed by MPs last month and is heading for the Lords this autumn. The new law would allow terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to apply for an assisted death. Asked about the bill in an interview with Saga Magazine, Dame Joanna, best known for her role as Patsy in the BBC sitcom Absolutely Fabulous, said: 'People are terribly anxious about it and think one may be coerced. But I'm saying this now, when nobody's coercing me – don't let me turn into somebody who doesn't recognise the people I love most, where I'm having a miserable time. When I get to the stage where I can't speak and have to be fed, that won't be me any more – and that's when I wouldn't mind saying farewell." One of the bill's most high-profile supporters has been TV presenter Dame Esther Rantzen, 85, who has terminal cancer and is being backed by her daughter Rebecca Wilcox. Esther recently urged members of the Lords not to block the legislation. Dame Joanna's support has been welcomed by campaigners, including Louise Shackleton. Louise is being probed by police after reporting herself for going with her husband Anthony, 59, to the Dignitas group in Switzerland. Anthony, who had motor neurone disease, had decided to end his life, aided by Dignitas, in December. Louise, 58, from North Yorkshire, told the Mirror how she would be burying his ashes today. She said: 'Monday is my husband's 60th birthday and it's the day we lay him to rest. 'He would have been overwhelmed that such a huge star has spoken out. I would like to thank Joanna on behalf of fellow campaigners for having the courage to speak out and to represent the vast majority of people who are in agreement with what she is saying but haven't got her platform.' Louise said she hoped the bill would make it through the Lords. She said: 'Hopefully, there will be measured, educated and community focused progress to move this forward.' Dignity in Dying CEO Sarah Wootton said: 'Dame Joanna's comments show that just like the overwhelming majority of the public, she supports assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults, which puts power in the hands of dying people to choose how they die. People want to know that when they are dying, they will have the peace of mind of being able to ask for a safe, peaceful assisted death. 'We urge the Lords to listen to dying people, bereaved families and the public.' But the bill does have its opponents. Gordon Macdonald, CEO of Care Not Killing, said after the last vote: 'This is a deeply flawed and dangerous bill which fails to protect vulnerable and disabled people from coercion.' However Louise responded: 'The bill does not include disabled people, it does not include people with anorexia or the elderly, unless they have a terminal illness with an assessed sound mind and less than six months to live.'
