Copyright manchestereveningnews
Susan Hampshire, a star of The Forsyte Saga, has left This Morning hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley stunned with the revelation of her real age. Susan, who played Fleur in the 1967 adaptation of John Galsworthy's novels and won a Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding continued performance by an actress in a leading role in a dramatic series in 1970, is now making a comeback to the franchise for a new series. The Forsytes, set to air on Channel 5 from tonight, teases: "Sticklers for tradition and status, the older Forsytes prize duty and reputation above all else, whilst the younger members rail against the rigidity of family expectations. "The question of who will take over the family firm puts Soames Forsyte and his cousin Jolyon in conflict just as their lives are turned upside down by the arrival of two remarkable women. "Ultimately each Forsyte family member grapples with the same dilemma - is it better to be ruled by the head or the heart?" Before making a guest appearance in the new six-part drama, Susan joined the stars of The Forsytes on This Morning, where she surprised the hosts by revealing that she is 88 years old. "I'm 88," she disclosed. "But I'm a health fanatic, it's all to do with what you eat and your genes." When asked by Ben and Cat about the secrets to her youthful appearance, Susan elaborated: "Clean eating, mostly raw, lots of nuts, lots of steamed vegetables, no heavy sauces, nothing heavy, everything that is easy to digest," reports the Express . When questioned about enjoying a glass of wine and whether she consumes alcohol, she then revealed: "I do but I'm not drinking at the moment because I'm coming on telly today and I didn't want to look too rough." "I often will travel with a little bottle of vodka," she joked. "And I have hard boiled eggs and healthy things, carrots, things like that." "You look absolutely fabulous," Ben complimented, whilst Susan chuckled: "It's the makeup!" Viewers were stunned too, with one posting: "Wow 88! Fair play to her!" Another remarked: "88? F**k off, that's not possible. "Susan looks great!" another repeated, as someone else observed: "Bloody hell she does look good for 88." "Not only does she not look 88 but she doesn't act like an old lady, her mannerisms and body language are much younger," another penned. The new series of The Forsytes stars Home and Away actor Joshua Orpin, Coronation Street's Millie Gibson, One Day's Eleanor Tomlinson, This Life actor Jack Davenport, and Downton Abbey actress Tuppence Middleton , as well as Francesca Annis, Jamie Flatters, Susan Hampshire and Danny Griffin Millie plays the "ambitious wife" of Soames Forsyte (Joshua) who battles against his cousin Jolyon (Danny) about taking over the family firm. Set in the late Victorian-era, the steamy drama follows familial tensions and marriages erupting as years-long secrets come to life. This Morning airs from 10am on ITV1 and ITVX. The Forsytes airs on Channel 5 at 9pm tonight.
