Joanna Lumley steps out for the first time since she revealed she was held at gunpoint by bandits during filming of TV documentary in Haiti
Joanna Lumley has stepped out for the first time since she revealed she was held at gunpoint while filming a television travel documentary in Haiti.
The TV personality, 73, who was unharmed during the ambush, was pictured in London on Friday just days after making the shocking admission.
The Absolutely Fabulous star was dressed casually for her outing in navy top and leopard print trousers, layered with an overcoat and trainers.
Out and about: Joanna Lumley has stepped out for the first time since she revealed she was held at gunpoint while filming a television travel documentary in Haiti
Joanna revealed that she was ensnared by the group of bandits while she was driving through a mountain range in the Caribbean country with her camera crew.
The gang told Joanna and her team that they would kill them if they did not hand over their cash, as she revealed they told her: ‘We want your money or your life.’
But two of the star’s bodyguards stepped in and she escaped unscathed.
She said the incident had not deterred her from continuing to film the two-part documentary series, Hidden Caribbean: Havana To Haiti.
Shocking tale: The TV personality, 73, who was unharmed during the ambush, was pictured in London on Friday just days after making the shocking admission
She said: ‘Suddenly there was a blockage across the road. They’d put branches down. Luckily, we had two big bodyguards who got out and said: ‘Come on guys, clear this away’.
And they went: ‘No, we want your money or your life.’ Sometimes they dig trenches, pour oil in and set fire to it, then come with guns and take your wallets.’
Joanna added: ‘I’m not an afraid kind of person. If you look timid, people and animals pick it up very fast.
‘In Haiti, people are so poor, but if you say, ‘Bonjour,’ and put your hand out, you’ve made friends immediately.’
Daytime glam: The Absolutely Fabulous star was dressed casually for her outing in navy top and leopard print trousers, layered with an overcoat and trainers
Candid: Joanna revealed that she was ensnared by the group of bandits while she was driving through a mountain range in the Caribbean country with her camera crew
The incident is not shown in the programme but Joanna, who has filmed several travel documentaries, said that was not the only drama involved in the filming of the series.
She said the crew arrived in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince ‘on the day of a riot, so we had to have a police escort to the hotel’.
‘Riots break out like wildfires across the country and if you’re in that place, you’re stuck. It’s a completely broken country. It’s totally lawless. You wouldn’t leave your hotel at night there.’
Frightening: The gang told Joanna and her team that they would kill them if they did not hand over their cash, as she revealed they told her: ‘We want your money or your life’
An ITV spokesman said: ‘A full risk assessment was carried out before filming in Haiti and Joanna was accompanied by the appropriate level of security.’
The series sees Joanna travel across two of the most enigmatic countries in the Caribbean – Cuba and Haiti – to explore hidden gems.
She kicks off the journey in a classic car in Havana, before embarking on the 1,500-mile trip which is shown in two 60-minute episodes.
Filming: She said the incident had not deterred her from continuing to film the two-part documentary series, Hidden Caribbean: Havana To Haiti