Joanna Lumley and Roger Allam Spill Secrets on Long Marriages, Bad Habits & Island Luxuries!

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What would you say is the secret to a long marriage?

Perhaps what’s needed is a good sense of humor. This includes finding joy in laughter, allowing space for individuality, and having the freedom to pursue activities independently or with others, without being inseparable.

Joanna: “Having a good sense of humor makes it easier to deal with life’s challenges, period. In a marriage, partners with compatible personalities can form a harmonious balance, much like the interaction between yin and yang.

What is your best trait?

Roger: “Answering this question feels like a kind of torment for me. To identify my finest quality, it might be the self-deception I have about resembling Cary Grant, though my poor eyesight prevents me from realizing that I don’t.

Joanna: “He’s an outstanding actor, boasting one of the finest voices I’ve ever heard and it’s a pleasure beyond measure to collaborate with him.

Roger: “Joanna possesses a multitude of admirable qualities, such as her consistent politeness towards everyone she encounters, along with her keen eagerness and fascination for the world around her.

What is your worst trait?

Roger admitted, “Occasionally, I can get a bit cranky. The thing I dislike most is becoming annoyed during interviews about various topics.

Joanna: “I seem to be a bit of a butterfly who flits from one thing to the next.”

Roger: “I can’t pinpoint Joanna’s biggest flaw, as there doesn’t seem to be a list. To me, it appears that she underestimates her remarkable talent as an actress.

How would you deal with a serious betrayal of trust?

Roger: “The situation is complex, and it varies depending on circumstances. This son isn’t a hidden secret between them – he’s a surprise for both parties. There’s significant concern on both sides about disrupting their long and content marriage. If the secret was intentionally kept, like if he knew about the son but chose not to reveal him, then I believe her leaving would be understandable. However, it’s hard for me to say whether Joanna behaves this way in real life.

Joanna: “I believe he’s more reliable than she is, as she seems to be quite economical with the truth. Yet, neither of our characters has ever done something truly wrong – there’s been no sign of infidelity, I am confident about that. She tends to cover her steps, for sure.

Roger: “The type of betrayal makes a difference. If it’s something extremely harmful, that situation is distinct from one that occurred during our separation. Those are two very different scenarios.

What would be Joanna’s luxury item on Desert Island Discs?

Roger: “Oooh, I really don’t know. Gosh. Maybe she’d take her cleansing routine.”

Joanna mentioned that she has appeared on Desert Island Discs twice, so her chosen luxuries are set. These were a painting of family and friends by artist John Ward, and the movie Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday. Since she seems to have those already on her island, she would like another film as an additional luxury, but she is unsure about which one to choose.

What would be Roger’s luxury item then?

Joanna: “I’d prefer to imagine him inviting me, but I know he won’t. He might fancy bringing his pet along, but that’s not allowed. So, it seems like he’d opt for something incredibly relaxing, like a plush armchair with a massive TV showing sports or perhaps some fine wine instead.

Assistant: “Would it be possible for me to have a quality wood-burning stove, seeing as I usually handle the cooking tasks and prefer listening to music while preparing meals?

What’s your studio snack of choice?

Roger: “Joanna’s would be a carrot baton or a fingernail, I think.”

Joanna: “During the ’60s, I was a model, which led me to have an unusual eating habit. I can easily spend an entire day just sipping on builder’s tea and nothing else. I dislike eating in the studio or at work. It also bothers me when someone eats while they’re talking to me over the phone, and one of the reasons I don’t enjoy going to the movies is the constant noise from rustling, eating, and slurping. I find it strange that people on Gogglebox always seem to have food and drinks nearby, and it seems odd to me. Although I’ve appeared on Gogglebox, my lifestyle is quite different – I never crave snacks.

I usually stay away from eating biscuits, but there are times when I slip up. If I did have a biscuit, it would likely be a dark chocolate and stem ginger variety.

Joanna: “Roger follows a strict schedule when it comes to eating, including drinking coffee at specific times. He’s quite disciplined about it.

Who corpses the most?

Roger: “Well, it seems we’re evenly matched there. I don’t believe either of us has an advantage over the other in that regard.

Joanna: “Roger seldom gets time off, and neither do I. We’re always busy – we manage two episodes each day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, so we need to keep moving. Corpsing, or breaking character, usually stems from the anxiety that you might make a mistake live on stage, especially in the theater. I like to believe that we both take our work seriously.

What’s your favourite scene?

Roger admits that he has no recollection of the TV series. He suggests that Joanna might be more knowledgeable on the subject as his memory regarding it is completely blank and everything seems to slip away from him.

For three days we came together and experienced everything. And just like that, it’s over. It’s something I truly enjoy, getting to see everyone and it’s an immense joy, but I can’t quite tell which scene was Joanna’s favorite. I can’t single one out, I’m afraid I don’t have a clear answer.

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2025-05-13 03:07