‘I’m hooked on songs by Barry Humphries!’

The wonderful Joanna Lumley, 72, embarks on her most adventurous and exotic journey yet – a 7,000-mile trip along the legendary Silk Road…

Was it your idea to do this trip? The Silk Road was my idea! The trip was meant to be from China to Venice, but then China wouldn’t play ball – so we thought we’d turn it on its head and go from Venice right up to the Chinese border, as far as we could get. What did you enjoy the most? I was completely dazzled by [rugged Central Asian country] Kyrgyzstan. It’s where I would go to if I was doing “rufty-tufty” – and by that, I mean if you wanted to walk or ride with nobody but a million yaks looking at you. The yurts at night are beautifully appointed, with clean bed linen – but it’s pretty much like sleeping under a carpet… Any other highlights? Tashkent [the capital city of Uzbekistan] was fabulous. It’s got boulevards, opera houses and great parks – it’s splendid. Was there anyone you particularly enjoyed meeting? I loved meeting the Bevilacqua family in Venice, who’ve been at the top of their game for 300 or 400 years, using the same looms in the same place [to make cloth]. I loved to see quite young-ish women working so hard at these old skills. I met a young cheese maker as well, he was divine. He was 27 and had been doing it since he was 14. I love young people doing physical work. My son [Jamie, aged 50] can iron and fold things and do the washing up and cook, because I really believe in that. Did you ever feel unsafe? No, and I have to say you could send a four-year-old with no name and address out to any of those countries [across Asia and Europe] and it would be looked after. I believe they’re the kindest and safest places in the world to go. You have to observe the customs, and try to get it right. You’re a vegetarian – did that cause any problems? To tell you the truth, I was terrified. I thought, “What am I going to do if it’s boiled goat in Bishkek [in Central Asia]?” But actually, I had one of the best salads I’d ever eaten anywhere in the world. Every single day we ate cucumbers and tomatoes, which seemed to grow sweeter and better. And they put masses of fresh herbs on the table – just cut – and they have beautiful fresh breads... Did you pack anything to remind you of home? Not so much, but I have a particular weakness – which I’ve never confessed before. On my ipad I have an excellent collection of ancient, between-the-war songs by Barry Humphries [aka Dame Edna Everage]. For some reason I’m hooked on them, and I get up very early in the morning – quite often by dim light – and I put them on to get ready for my day. It’s like a ritual. Were there any funny moments while filming? In Uzbekistan, they make glossy and shiny bread that can last for months, and they would take it on the Silk Road. I was trying to demonstrate how nice it was – but my mouth was so stuffed I discovered I couldn’t speak! I just started mumbling with a huge mouthful and walked off camera. We [Joanna and the crew] were all really tired by this point, and we were just crying with laughter. I always have to eat stuff on these journeys and although it’s delicious, I eat too much of it!