Joanna Lumley will be honoured with the Fellowship at the Virgin TV British Academy Television Awards at the Royal Festival Hall in London on Sunday 14th May.
The Fellowship is awarded annually and is the highest accolade bestowed by BAFTA upon an individual in recognition of an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film, television or games across their career.
Joanna Lumley OBE said: “Nothing could make me prouder or happier than being awarded this phenomenal honour. To be counted amongst the greatest talents and stars of our industry is an awesome gift: the BAFTA Fellowship is the grandest and most unexpected prize I have ever had the joy of receiving.”
Jane Lush, Chair of BAFTA, said: “From high-kicking her way into our hearts as Purdey in The New Avengers to showcasing her enviable comedic credentials with her portrayal of Patsy Stone in Absolutely Fabulous, Joanna Lumley is a true icon of television, and so I am truly delighted that BAFTA will be honouring her with the Fellowship this year, the highest honour that the Academy bestows.”
Joanna’s career has spanned 40 years and she’s one of the most acclaimed and distinctive performers in British television.
Previous fellows honoured for their work in television include Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, along with Jon Snow, Bruce Forsyth, Melvyn Bragg, Michael Palin, Trevor MacDonald, David Attenborough and Julie Walters. Ray Galton and Alan Simpson received the Fellowship at last year’s Television Awards.
The Virgin TV British Academy Television Awards will be hosted by Sue Perkins at the Royal Festival Hall, London and broadcast on BBC One at 20.00 on Sunday 14th May.
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