With her triumphant espousal of the Gurkhas' cause, a much-loved actress has added political clout to her very English brand of charm.

The idea began on Twitter. Then the blogs took it up. Finally the notion ended up on the front page of the one newspaper in a headline three inches high. Joanna Lumley for Prime Minister, was the message.

The weight of the political blow dealt to Gordon Brown by Britain's most effortlessly elegant actress this week left political commentators grasping for similes. The victory of Joanna Lumley's campaign to get the Government to reconsider its refusal to allow the British Army's former Gurkha soldiers the right to settle in the United Kingdom was, said one of our most seasoned political pundits, equivalent to six by-election defeats in terms of the damage that it does to the authority of the PM. 
 
 

Stunning actress Joanna Lumley is not afraid of ageing in a business that demands perfection. At 62, the most glamorous of grandmothers tells Sarah Caden about dyeing her hair, going without food for days -- and why she won't be giving up smoking.

By Jackie McGlone

Joy of Six - What are the best bits of Joanna Lumley's TV Career ?

Disclaimer: the following article will momentarily disappoint two sets of fans. Firstly because we're going chronological today. Sorry, rankings fans. And although the Joy in this Six is all about Joanna Lumley, whose status as a national institution was founded on her role as Patsy Stone in Absolutely Fabulous, we're not going to talk about Ab Fab. Apologies, Ab Fab fans. But let's be honest here: what hasn't been said before? In a blatant and probably rather sad attempt to appease the Ab-Fabbers among you, here's one of my favourite moments to keep you going.

Anyway, on to six other equally joyous milestones in Lumley's TV career.

The package is for you and three friends to have lunch with Joanna Lumley and Sir Terry Wogan at Richard Corrigan's restaurant, Bentley's.  Package details:

*At a date to be arranged next year, you and three friends will come to London for a leisurely lunch with two national treasures – Sir Terry Wogan and Joanna Lumley.
*Lunch will be served in the elegance of Bentley’s Restaurant, which is owned by Michelin starred chef Richard Corrigan.
*You’ll be met and chauffeur driven to the exclusive eatery – by a Bentley of course!
*There you will join Terry and Joanna in a private room for several hours of eating and chatting.
*We'll arrange photos at the event so you have a reminder of the great day.
*You’ll need to get yourselves to and from London but we’ll then get you to lunch.

It will be auctioned by live telephone bids on Wake Up With Wogan - BBC Radio 2 - on Wednesday 12th November.  This annual auction usually raises staggering bids for charity, so I expect this will go for several thousands !!

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Also, heads up for UK viewers - BBC4 are repeating "The New Avengers" from the start this Thursday at 7.40pm.  The first time it has aired on TV for about 15 years !
 

It's still new so give it some time and she'll add much more!

She would ban celebrity magazines, teach girls to sew and, oh yes, bring back national service. Joanna Lumley proves she is more bluestocking than bombshell, says Bryony Gordon.