How Archbishop and Joanna Lumley helped Rev duck a fine

tHe combined charms of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Ab Fab star Joanna lumley helped BBC radio presenter the Reverend Richard Coles avoid a fine when caught with the wrong ticket on a railway journey.

‘i was on the platform at Canterbury Railway station with the Archbishop of Canterbury after a do,’ Coles tells me. ‘And there on the platform was Joanna lumley and her husband. A very congenial journey followed, but when we got to st Pancras i discovered i’d lost my return ticket.’

the Communards musicianturned-Anglican priest continues: ‘there was a very surly man on the barrier and i said: “oh, i’m sorry, i’ve lost my ticket,” in my best vicar voice. But no, nothing, he just blocked me and was very unhelpful. then i said: “But my friends can vouch for me.”

‘He looked up to see the Archbishop and Joanna lumley, and suddenly it was: open sesame.’