Born during the last days of the Raj after both sides of her family called India home for several generations, Joanna will explore the vibrant and unique country.
In the travel series, she hopes to have an immersive experience of its diverse landscapes and varying cultural traditions.
The programme will see the Ab Fab star meet an eclectic mix of people and discover how independence has shaped India into the constantly evolving country it is today.
However, the 71-year-old Bafta Fellowship Award winner will not touch on the former British rule.
The programme stays away from partition itself, but Joanna acknowledges that the legacy of British rule is equally tricky territory.
Joanna told the latest issue of Radio Times: “First of all we must start by saying that I don’t think there’s a country in the world who would relish being ruled by outsiders.
“But at the same time there were obvious things that the British did in India, too: railways, schooling, law courts.
“They brought in a kind of civil service and the bureaucracy, which Indians have taken to like ducks to water. These are the good stories. The bad stories are, in essence, that nobody wants to be ruled by somebody else.”
She added that India’s colonial past is now largely an irrelevance, adding: “Most of the population today never knew India under British rule.
“So it’s a part of history for them, they don’t talk about it any more than we sit here talking about the Second World War.
“We know about it, but it doesn’t affect us. So those we met were always thrilled to hear that we were from Britain, but there was no overweening sense of either curiosity or shame or anger or resentment.”
The full interview is available to read in the latest issue of Radio Times.
Joanna Lumley’s India airs on ITV on Wednesday at 9pm.
Daily Express :: TV and Radio Feed
