Dame Joanna Lumley is back – and this time, she’s journeying along the majestic Danube River in her latest travel series for ITV. At 79, the beloved actress and presenter is more passionate than ever about the magic of life, culture, and adventure.
Speaking ahead of the show’s premiere, Joanna delivers an impassioned plea: “You’ve only got one life. You must live it to the full. Get up before dawn, take a local bus, don’t just lie by the pool.”
In Joanna Lumley’s Danube, she traces the iconic river’s journey from the Black Forest in Germany all the way to the Black Sea, crossing ten countries and meeting a fascinating mix of people: beer-brewing nuns in Bavaria, lederhosen-clad dancers, Romani witches, Transylvanian mystics, and even Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst.
One of her most touching stops was a “Granny Café” in Vienna – a space designed to combat loneliness among the elderly. Sitting down with the cafe’s founder, Joanna said: “We are old but we are not finished. We’ve got love to give, skills to offer. This place touched my heart.”
Her trip also offered moments of humour and awe – including a candlelit Romani ceremony, a performance by the Vienna Boys Choir, and a hilarious encounter with nuns who joyfully justified brewing beer: “I think God wants us to be happy – and alcohol makes us happy!”
Reflecting on the Danube’s historical and cultural weight, Joanna admits she once underestimated it. “I didn’t realise how important this river is – it has carried people, goods, borders, and wars. It defines who we are and where we belong.”
Despite a lifetime of global adventures, she says this European odyssey felt uniquely special. “You might think you know Europe, but you really don’t until you go deep. Every part of this trip was magical, touching, extreme – and at times, completely dazzling.”
