Joanna Lumley's latest travel series, Joanna Lumley's Danube, was not without its challenges – the crew faced extreme temperatures and stumbled upon a witch ritual involving fire.
Dame Joanna Lumley embarks on another adventure in her new ITV travel series, tracing the epic journey of the River Danube from its origins to where it meets the sea.
Despite being a self-proclaimed geography enthusiast, the Absolutely Fabulous star confesses she had much to learn about the Danube before setting off.
"I couldn't be more interested and in love with geography, and the world as a whole," she shares. "But I was pretty thick about the Danube."
Throughout the three-part series, viewers will follow Joanna from Germany through Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania, with a side trip to the Ukrainian border, culminating at the Black Sea.
Reflecting on the experience, Joanna reveals her awe at witnessing the river's humble beginnings and its majestic journey. "It was a delight to see this magnificent river coming out of the ground at the source, a tiny little trickle, and then travelling her length," she marvels. "It was awesome."
Not only did the stunning vistas leave an impression, but Joanna also achieved a personal goal by visiting the Vienna Boys Choir and formed lasting bonds with people like the group of German women who fostered community spirit through their café initiative.
Joanna shared, "They decided to bring in their lovely china and hand-knitted cushions to make the café welcoming," adding, "They serve the most delicious cakes and they're the waitresses. It was very touching. They were so happy to be out in society again and to be needed."
During her time in Austria, she caught up with Eurovision icon Conchita Wurst, also known as Tom Neuwirth, who gave her a fabulous tour of his homeland. However, it was an unexpected troupe of dancers that truly captured her affection.
Joanna gushed about the lederhosen-clad dancers, revealing, "The lederhosen dancers were so unbelievably touching," and explaining, "It was a group made completely of middle-aged gay men, it was out of this world. They were amazing. Their kindness and inclusivity touched me very much."
She reflected on the region's troubled history, saying, "Thinking back to Austria and Germany's darkest times, where people were persecuted and sent to camps for being gay," and marveled, "suddenly here they are in the heart of Austria doing this fabulous dancing."
On her adventures in Romania, Joanna encountered a dazzling coven of white witches engaging in enigmatic rituals. She described the scene: "They work with the elements – earth, air, water, fire – to bring peace and ward off negativity," and shared, "They were so glamorous."
The filming process wasn't without its challenges, Joanna remembered, "They used masses of candles for their ceremony," she recounts, "The camera boys nearly died from the heat. Then they gave me an amulet to take me safely on the rest of my journey."
The experience ended on a mysterious note, as she mentioned, "The camera boys nearly died from the heat. Then they gave me an amulet to take me safely on the rest of my journey."
The journey wasn't all tranquil lagoons and magical moments. The weather was sometimes harsh, with Joanna braving everything from blistering heat at the river's mouth to freezing cold in the mountains bordering Slovakia and Poland.
"It was phenomenally cold," Joanna recalls. "We went to the Tatra Mountains but it was so cold we didn't know if we'd be able to get up. When I spoke with the weather man his moustache and eyelashes were covered in ice."
Despite the challenges, it was all worth it. "We spent so much time on planes, trains, roads," she shares. "But being on the water was like wandering into paradise. There were massive lagoons and lakes filled with every kind of bird. It was beyond beautiful."
In Romania, she discovered another treasure – an architect striving to restore Roman spa baths. "It was beyond beautiful," she enthuses. "Things that are decaying and falling apart have a unique beauty to them – that was very special."
Beyond the culture and candles, Joanna reveals this journey offered a deeper reward – time for reflection. "I did a lot of thinking and reflecting on how we neglect geography at our peril," she admits.
"The world is full of wonders. Everything about this trip was eye-opening. It was incredibly touching, hilarious and extreme." The actress has travelled the world – from Cuba to India, Greece to Moscow – but she still can't pick her favourite adventure.
"I feel like an unfaithful flirt because every time I've gone somewhere I think, 'Oh that was extraordinary,'" she says. "Then you go somewhere else and think, 'That's the best.'".
Joanna, now 79, lives very much in the moment, and she's not slowing down – and she wants to bring others along for the ride. "I'd love people to realise the world is marvellous," she says.
"Get up before dawn and go somewhere odd. Don't just lie by the pool." Her philosophy is simple, but urgent. "You've only got one life," she says. "You must live it to the full."
