Joanna Lumley reveals huge new TV show as she prepares for mammoth 1770-mile adventure
DAME Joanna Lumley won’t be winding down into a retirement any time soon.
The Absolutely Fabulous legend is jetting off for another travel show — this time planning a trip down the entire 1,770-mile length of the River Danube.
She has already travelled the world’s Spice Trail, down the longest railway on the Trans-Siberian Express, the River Nile, Japan and Haiti.
But she is now set to tick off Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine — the ten countries the Danube river passes through or borders.
Unlike a number of other celebrity travel junkies with their own series, Joanna will undertake her journey alone.
And despite turning 78 this May, she tells me she has no worries about the trip, as she is fit as a fiddle and in shape for the challenge on ITV.
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Joanna says: “We’re due to travel in the late spring of 2024 and it’s incredibly exciting.
“We’re due to head across a part of the world with which I’m not that familiar at all, and across all the countries through which the Danube flows.”
Bosses have already planned parts of the adventure, including Germany’s Black Forest and the coast of the Black Sea — but the rest is yet to be confirmed.
An insider reveals: “Producers are preparing for the show to start filming soon and while destinations in some countries have already been organised, others are taking more planning.
“The Danube runs the border with Ukraine, and bosses are having to consider how safe and practical it would be for Joanna to film there as the war continues.”
SAM AND NICK NTA SALUTE
I’M A Celebrity winner Sam Thompson and former Towie star Pete Wicks will be red carpet hosts at the National Television Awards for the second year running.
The best pals will present the action as the celebrities arrive at London’s O2 Arena for the bash on September 11.
An insider tells me: “Sam stole the hearts of the nation in Australia last year – as did his friendship with Pete, who flew out to be there with him and celebrate when he won.
“And after being crowned King of the Jungle, Sam is now going to be king of the red carpet again.
“Their success on the carpet last year, and Sam’s new-found fans, made him the perfect choice – and of course, the pair come as a duo.
“They are expected to bring plenty of laughs as they present live in the middle of the action.”
BUDGET TOO BIG FOR TINIE
TINIE TEMPAH is put in his place by an old friend in the new series of his Channel 4 property development show Extraordinary Extensions.
In the first episode on Friday, the musician turned property developer meets former sound tech experts John and Heather Penn, who provided sound engineering for hundreds of his shows.
The couple reveal they spent £1.5million on their Warwickshire property, then tore up the inside and plan a huge extension, with an underground pool and spa.
After hearing of the plans, which were expected to cost another £1.5million, Tinie jokes: “All the invoicing that I was getting, now it makes total sense.”
But John jibes back: “No, if you were our only client, we’d only be able to afford the door.”
He adds: “I’m doing this because I don’t want to retire and get old, fat and boring.
“If I didn’t have a project, I’d just end up back at work.”
HBO’s incredible post-apocalyptic series The Last Of Us won EIGHT gongs at the Emmys – including Outstanding Guest Actor for Nick Offerman.
Ed Sheeran bagged his first Emmy, winning Outstanding Music and Lyrics for his Ted Lasso song, A Beautiful Game.
ALEXANDER FALLS FOWL
POINTLESS host Alexander Armstrong was disappointed to be uncovered on The Masked Singer, but he was thrilled to be reunited with old chum Joel Dommett.
Alexander stunned the panel – including singer Rita Ora – when he was revealed as Chicken Caesar on the ITV1 show on Saturday in front of an impressive five million TV viewers.
He knows Joel from years ago when the Masked Singer host was a warm-up act yet to hit the big time.
Alexander said: “The warm-up makes the studio audience happy and ensures they’re all having a lovely time.
“Joel did that job masterfully.
“He’s the reason why Pointless is still going.
“He’s the reason why it found its audience because he made it such a delight for [former co-host] Richard Osman and me.
“It’s been fabulous watching Joel’s career.
"He was just starting out then, and he’s gone absolutely on the trajectory he should have gone on.
“It’s lovely seeing him here.”
Shame it couldn’t have been under happier circumstances
VIANET IS SENDING ’EM MILD
WILDLIFE cameraman Vianet Djenguet has embedded himself in a gorilla tribe, survived a scary encounter with a 30-stone silverback and made a BBC documentary, but his children remain unfazed.
He tells me: “I’d like to think what I do is quite cool – I’m out there filming and mixing with gorillas.
“But [my kids] play it down a lot – like it’s totally normal.”
Vianet, who has worked on Sir David Attenborough’s Planet Earth III and Life In Colour, has “plenty of plans” after hosting documentary Silverback.
He teases: “I want to do two more films with elephants and lions.
“I’ll never start a competition with Sir David, though – he’s the godfather in this industry.
“But after my 30th or 40th documentary, I’ll get close to what he’s achieved.”
EMMERDALE will be rocked by a breast cancer storyline this month, as Lucy Pargeter’s Chas Dingle finds a lump.
She said: “It won’t be all doom and gloom, there will be ups and downs. And if just a few people get help for breast changes, it could do some good too.”
THAT’S A WRAP ON ’SHEETS
SAUCY Channel 4 series Spreadsheet appears to have bitten the dust.
The comedy-drama starred Katherine Parkinson as lawyer Lauren, a divorcee looking for no-strings sex.
With the help of colleague Alex, played by Rowan Witt, she creates a spreadsheet to stop her from doubling up on her rendezvous in the eight-part 2022 show.
But Katherine has confirmed the show has been shelved.
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She tells me: “Spreadsheet was great fun to film in Australia, but I’ve heard nothing about a second series and I’m pretty sure I would have been contacted by now if there were going to be more.”
The IT Crowd actress now stars in wholesome ITV1 romcom Significant Other.