Joanna Lumley has been criticised by social media users for ‘hypocrisy overload’ after urging everyone to do their part in her new climate change documentary on ITV – despite fronting a number of travel programmes.
The 75-year-old actress, who has created documentaries which saw her explore Japan, India and the Caribbean in recent years, featured in Joanna Lumley and the Human Swan last night.
The programme involved Joanna travelling around the UK as she followed adventurer Sacha Dench, who took to the skies in an electric paramotor to attempt an epic journey around the British coast whilst raising awareness about climate change.
Joanna shared her thoughts on climate change with Sacha, who was seriously injured during the 3,000-mile journey. She also lost a member of her support group.
But viewers were quick to call Joanna a “hypocrite”, with one tweeting that Joanna had made eight travel documentaries over the past six years, which took her to every corner on Earth by trains, planes, and automobiles.
Joanna Lumley (pictured centre) has been criticised by social media users for ‘hypocrisy overload’ after urging everyone to do their part in her new climate change documentary on ITV – despite fronting a number of travel programmes
The 75-year-old actress was featured last night in Joanna Lumley’s Human Swan.
Another responded, “Are they kidding me!” What number of travel programs has this woman completed flying around the globe? Ridiculous!This is ridiculous!
A third outraged viewer added: ‘@JoannaLumleyUK can f*** right off. Hypocrisy overload.
Another question was: “In the interest of combating global warming, are your going vegan and cutting down on your air miles?” You have tremendous potential to influence.
Yet other viewers were pleased to see Joanna using her platform to showcase Sacha’s journey.
Reaction: Viewers quickly labeled Joanna a “hypocrite”, with one posting on Twitter: “She has made no less than eight travel documentaries which have taken her to every corner of the Earth… by trains. planes. and automobiles.
One viewer wrote on Twitter: ‘@sachadench just watched you with Joanna Lumley. I agree with your sentiments. We can all do our bit. Respect.’
Another impressed fan added: ‘Wow, wow, wow. There’s plenty to think about,’ another fan said. A third added: ‘Just watched. [Sacha]Joanna Lumley. I agree with your sentiments. We can all make a difference.
Sacha, a biologist from Sacha, crashed out of the sky after she collided with a support crew member.
Dan Burton, 54 years old, was in a separate paramotor and died in September. Sacha, 43, is a relative to Dame Judy Dench and remains in hospital with serious injuries.
Joanna was travelling around the UK with Sacha Dench as she followed her on an adventure. Sacha used an electric paramotor to travel around the British coast while raising awareness about climate changes. Other viewers were pleased to see Joanna using her platform to showcase Sacha’s journey
Joanna had met with the scientist to film her ITV documentary, Joanna Lumley and the Human Swan, ahead of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow this week.
Joanna, in an interview with The Times, stated that although she initially wanted ‘backaway’ from the project at first, Sacha’s and Dan’s relatives encouraged her to broadcast it as planned.
“Please!” cried Dan’s brave and brave family. This is what it’s meant for” and Sacha sent a message to her team from her hospital room, saying, “For goodness sake, show this film, that is why we were doing this”‘, Joanna.
Paragliders were finishing a circumnavigation around the country as part a Round Britain Climate Challenge. Disaster struck near Unapool in Scotland.
Joanna shared her thoughts on climate change with Sacha (right), a woman who was seriously injured during the 3,000-mile journey. She also lost a member of her support group.
Originally from Australia and now living in Bristol, Sacha is known for global expeditions with migratory species but has turned her focus to climate change after losing her family home in Sydney to bushfires last year.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Dame Judi have supported previous missions, including a flight above the Atlas mountains. Sacha was flying a modified machine that enabled her to take-off and land anywhere she wanted to recharge for her latest challenge.
Joanna, who lives in Stockwell, south London, said that the news was all the more difficult to hear knowing how skilled both Sacha and Dan were, adding that they always ‘put safety first’ while flying.
She stated that it was difficult to take the news aboard, knowing how skilled they were. They always put safety first, much like mountaineers. Before every flight, they went through the checklist.
Pictured left, Sacha with her adapted electric paramotor at Glasgow Science Centre. Right Dan Burton is preparing for a flight to Stevenson beach, west Scotland.
Elsewhere in the interview, Joanna also shared her thoughts on Insulate Britain, the environmentalist group which has become infamous for its ‘campaign of civil resistance’.
Joanna stated that, while she wouldn’t join in on such a demonstration, she can sympathise and understand the anger of those involved.
‘You can understand why people get so infuriated they’re driven to do these difficult and horrible things to draw attention to themselves.’
Joanna is a passionate advocate for the environment, animal welfare, and vegetarianism. Last week, Joanna made headlines when she suggested that rationing could solve climate change.
Sacha, a biologist from Sacha, crashed out of the sky after colliding in a motorized paraglider with a member.
The Absolutely Fabulous star suggested that legislation be needed ‘for this beautiful Earth’.
She stated that “These are tough times.” ‘We might even have to go back to some kind of rationing, where you’re given a certain number of points and it’s up to you how to spend them – whether it’s buying a bottle of whisky or flying in an aeroplane.’
Joanna, who has previously campaigned against single-use plastic, also said people should cut back on weekend breaks abroad and stop eating meat.
Speaking to Radio Times, she added: ‘We’ve got to think that everything we do will make the place better – every plastic bottle you don’t buy, every piece of litter you pick up, every piece of meat you don’t eat. Every little thing matters.