MARRIED

to conductor Stephen Barlow for 31 years, Joanna Lumley goes to unusual lengths to keep the spark alight.

‘Sometimes I cook him supper when he gets home at two in the morning, and we sit and talk as though it’s 8pm,’ the 71-year- old Ab Fab star says. ‘We always put a candle on the table — even if it’s baked beans on toast.’ But she admits to tensions with Barlow, 62. ‘We have something called the kitchen diary, which is the most fatal thing. We’re supposed to write in it where we’ll be.

‘I’ll go: “Where are you going?” And he’ll say: “Limerick.” And I’ll say: “Limerick? Why haven’t you written it in?” Ugly moments!’