Joanna Lumley David McCallum. Conceived as ITV's answer to "Doctor Who", Lumley played a mysterious elemental being ("Sapphire") who, with her collaborator, "Steel", dealt with breaches in the fabric of time. In 1986, television producer Sydney Newman suggested Lumley for the role of the Doctor but his idea was dismissed. Over a decade later Lumley's career was boosted by her portrayal of the louche, selfish and frequently drunk fashion director Patsy Stone, companion to Jennifer Saunders' Edina Monsoon in the BBC comedy television series "Absolutely Fabulous" (1992–1996, 2001–2004, 2011–2012). "" was released in 2016. In 1994 and 1995 Lumley starred alongside Nadine
Joanna Lumley chicken in the BAFTA award-winning animated series "The Foxbusters". In 2000, she co-produced a new drama series "The Cazalets". She appeared in a TV series on Sarawak, where she spent time in her childhood. She has demonstrated her ability to go beyond stereotypical images, most notably in the monologue series of playlets "Up In Town" (2002), written by Hugo Blick, and focusing on a society hostess's realisation that her star is fading. Lumley starred as the elderly Delilah Stagg in the 2006 sitcom "Jam & Jerusalem" with Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, and Sue Johnston. In July 2007, she starred in