1 day Ago By [email protected] (Shelley Spadoni , Nikki Onafuye)
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info She's a comedy legend who's had us in stitches with her roles in Absolutely Fabulou s, French And Saunders, and Bottom, but Helen Lederer is proving she's far more than just a funny face.
The quick-witted actress has always been game for new adventures. Now, at the grand age of 70, she's trading in the glitz and glamour for the rugged beauty of the mountains in BBC Two's latest offering, Pilgrimage: The Road Through The Alps. We're set to see Helen embarking on an epic journey across the Austrian and Swiss Alps armed only with her backpack and her unwavering spirit – and yes, she'll still be serving up those classic Sauvignon Blanc quips we've come to adore.
Reflecting on the experience, Helen shared, "I looked back at the photos from the show recently and honestly, it hit me how intense it all was," as she reminisced over snapshots of the adventure. "You go through something with people you barely know, and suddenly you're bonded for life. It was beautiful – and exhausting!".
The three-part series, which will grace our screens this Easter, features seven stars from diverse walks of life and faiths, all embarking on a challenging 300km trek along an ancient pilgrimage route. Joining Helen are celebs like The Wanted's Jay McGuiness , The Traitors' victor Harry Clark, comedian Daliso Chaponda, TV host Jeff Brazier, Paralympic athlete Stef Reid, and journalist Nelufar Hedayat, each delving into discussions about faith, identity, and their personal journeys that have led them to this point. Helen, who boasts a diverse background with a Protestant mum and a culturally Jewish dad, saw her spiritual and physical quest as an opportunity to delve into aspects of her identity she hadn't fully embraced before.
Reflecting on her connection to her roots, she shares, "It's not something I usually talk about, I was very close to my father," her voice laden with emotion and a hint of tears. She continues, "I've always carried my mixed background with me, but never quite knew what to do with it. This experience helped me embrace that heritage instead of trying to compartmentalise it.
There's a scene in the show where I connect with someone else who has a similarly complex identity. It was emotional, and totally unexpected." Looking back at her stint on Celebrity Big Brother in 2017, Helen contrasts it starkly with her recent introspective adventure on Pilgrimage.
Commenting on the differences and the latest series of CBB that's currently on air, she observes, "I mean , your personality will be outed , sooner or later, and people are set against each other because of the nature of the game – unlike the pilgrimage, which was a pure experience. The other one is a game." Helen, known for her quirky wit and self-mocking charm, brought a dose of laughter to the Big Brother house .
However, she confesses that the stress and the constant need to entertain made it quite different from the genuine bonds she formed in the Alps. "I still speak to Shaun Williamson from our time on the show. I met up with him a couple of times.
We used to go around the fake grass asking each other quiz questions to try and remain sane, that's how we passed the time." Fortunately for Helen, despite her apprehensions about making a comeback to reality TV, her stint with Pilgrimage turned out to be a refreshing change. "It wasn't like Big Brother, thank goodness," she chuckles.
"I thought, 'If this turns out to be the same, I'm out!' But it wasn't. This wasn't a competition, no one won – it was a shared journey. We just wanted to experience how you felt at the beginning and the end and have these kinds of open conversations you wouldn't normally have.
" Still very much a comedian at heart, Helen maintains that it's humour that has helped her navigate through life's gravest moments. "I recently added new chapters to my paperback Not That I'm Bitter," she shares, referring to her memoir which now includes reflections from Pilgrimage and the heartbreaking yet oddly humorous funeral of her friend, comedian Tony Slattery. "He would've found the whole thing hilarious," she reminisces with a smile.
"I try to find the absurd in everything – grief, ageing, even this crazy hike. It's your attitude to life that keeps you uplifted and buoyant and the bad stuff can't get you. I'm in a better place than when I began.
" Clearly, Pilgrimage offered Helen more than just a physical challenge; it became a journey of self-discovery and forging unexpected friendships. "Jay and I just clicked," she beams. "We'd end up laughing at nothing.
And Harry – what a joy. There was such a warmth in the group. Despite the age differences, there was a beautiful energy between us.
" The journey also brought some personal insights. "I realised I sit too much!" she chuckles. "I need to move more.
But seriously, I learnt so much about patience, tolerance, and how different people experience the world. I came back with a bigger heart, I think." Despite her extensive career spanning soaps to stand-up, she's not ready to take a back seat.
"I've got something coming up in the West End," she hints excitedly. "Can't say much now, but I'm buzzing. I still want to play, still want to connect with people.
"That's what Pilgrimage reminded me – connection is everything. "". Helen's all about living life to the fullest these days, confessing: "I used to be more stand-offish," but now she's diving in headfirst.
"But now, I'm fully engaged. I do festivals, I talk to readers, I perform with more heart." And when it comes to the future? She's keeping it breezy with a "Who knows!" adding that she's game for anything, "I'm open to it all, so long as there's a decent glass of wine at the end of it.
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