For 10 years, it's been quietly keeping the nation chuckling-but after 64 episodes, time has finally run out for As Time Goes By, as it returns for one final series.

Its Oscar-winning star Dame Judi Dench, 67, has decided to say goodbye to sitcomland to focus on her film and theatre career. Maybe it was because the popular series, about childhood sweethearts Jean, played by Judi, and Lionel (Geoffrey Palmer, above, with Judi) rekindling their romance in middle age, never became trendy must-see TV.

"After the last series, I only had two remarks about the show," says Dame Judi, who was Oscar-nominated for her performance in Iris this year.

"One was, 'Wasn't the dog good?', and the other one said, 'Where did you get your luggage?' I thought, 'Blow this for a game of marbles. I'm outta here!'" But in this four-part farewell run, the comedy will be bowing out in style. Jean's twice-married daughter Judith (Moira Brooker) finally says yes to the dubious Alistair Deacon (Philip Bretherton).

No doubt there will be tears on the big day -- even a few real ones.

"It will be very sad to say goodbye to everyone as it's still practically the same team we started with," explains Judi, who will soon be seen as M in the new Bond movie Die Another Day and as Lady Bracknell in the film version of The Importance Of Being Ernest [sic].

"I will miss the people on As Time Goes By, but I won't miss the stress of recording. I always panic before we go in front of the studio audience, thinking, 'Is it still funny? Will we still remember our lines?' That's the trickiest part. It's amazing how quickly the lines can be wiped from your brain. You are standing there in the studio and you have no idea what the show is or what the part is. You just go blank.

"What makes this series so successful is that Jean and Lionel's characters are both very human. The viewers can relate to her dottiness and his crankiness. It's amazing how many people seem to have a history rather like them. The similarities are extraordinary."

In the autumn, Judi will return to the West End in new play The Breath Of Life with her mate Dame Maggie Smith. But first up for the Yorkshire-born acting veteran-who lost her husband Michael Williams to cancer last year-is a holiday in Scotland with daughter Finty and five-year-old grandson Sammy.

"I'm going up to Scotland to paint and enjoy spending time with my daughter and my grandson," says Judi, who lives in Surrey. "I love being a gran. We do everything together. He's at that lovely age where he can swim, so I think there is going to be lots of splashing around in the water. I can't wait!"

Thanks so much to Maree Wilson for sending me this article from the theTVmag (UK)

Return