JOANNA LUMLEY,

inset, is distinctly oldschool when it comes to keeping children in line. ‘I know we are not allowed to do slapping any more,’ reflected the 75-year-old Absolutely Fabulous star during a talk about the meaning of ‘compassion’ in Oxford this week. ‘I understand that it can lead to violence – and that’s indefensible,’ she added, ‘but if I hadn’t been slapped, I’d literally be in jail now.’ Lumley’s belief in a bit of tough love is partly the result of her despair at the sight of children locked on to screens.