Joanna Lumley expresses shock about Cecil the lion killing: ‘This lion had a right to live’

The British actress is disgusted by the killing of Cecil.


by Maria Vallahis |
Published on

British actress Joanna Lumley has spoken out about the death of Cecil the lion on ITV's This Morning.

Speaking to the show's hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford, Joanna expressed her disgust at the fact Cecil was killed by a bow and arrow in Zimbabwe on July 1.

“It’s so shocking, and [has] shocked, quite rightly, everybody in the world.

"What it also has brought a focus on, is how many wild animals we do continue to kill for fun… only these are ivory hunters, people who take rhino horns, elephant tusks, people who kill animals for their skins... it’s absolutely horrifying, and those of us that love animals - which most of the world pretends to or says they do - must understand that unless we do something to stop it, these animals are going to die forever,” she told the daytime show hosts.

TOP NEWS

    The 69-year-old added: “Now people have kindly said that they want their grandchildren to know there are wild elephants, but what about the elephants themselves? They have a right to live.

    "This lion had a right to live. And the idea of anybody… I want to get into the head of somebody who has an animal put in front of it so that it can kill it, I can’t see what part of that has any part of a human brain… so that man is now condemned, sadly.

    “We have to be strong. It’s no use saying ‘I’m so sad about it’... Join up. Let us join up and get the enraged world and let’s stop it happening.”

    Joanna sitting with Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford on This Morning.

    Joanna also to husband and wife, Eamonn and Ruth, about an upcoming Absolutely Fabulous one-off film.

    Lightening the mood she said: “She [Jennifer Saunders] has written it, and it’d be wrong for me to say that I’ve completely read it because I think it’s been changing, but we are starting filming it on October 12th!

    “We are all there, the same old gang. Lots of people you will have seen in it before, I think we are going down to the south of France to do some of the shooting there… It’ll all be shot on location. It is going to be ravishingly funny! Very gorgeous… and [in a Patsy voice] completely fabulous!”

    Will you bring back the Patsy beehive hair thought Joanna?!

    Bake Off bakers

    Gallery

    Bake Off bakers

    Ugna, 321 of 12

    Ugna, 32

    Ugna's a keen bodybuilder who moved from her homecountry, Lithuania, to Essex, where she now lives with her partner and two children.

    Tamal, 292 of 12

    Tamal, 29

    Tamal is a trainee anaesthetist, whose biggest Bake Off fear is the judges thinking a child has done his piping. Sad times...

    Dorret, 533 of 12

    Dorret, 53

    Dorret is an acocuntant who's been baking for 40 years, and likes working with chocolate and booze. But, then again... who doesn't?

    Ian, 414 of 12

    Ian, 41

    Former travel photographer, Ian, is a stay-at-home dad most of the time. But when the Dalai Lama comes to visit the UK he works as his personal snapper. Cool, huh?

    Sandy, 495 of 12

    Sandy, 49

    Sandy's a child welfare officer, which includes her running a cookery club for children from deprived backgrounds.

    Mat, 376 of 12

    Mat, 37

    Mat learnt to bake in between working shifts as a firefighter in London.

    Nadiya, 307 of 12

    Nadiya, 30

    Nadiya is a full-time mum of three and the daughter of a restaurant owner, so she comes from a family of foodies.

    Alvin, 378 of 12

    Alvin, 37

    Alvin's a nurse, and lives with his wife and two young children in Bracknell. He comes across as cool as a cucumber, but can get pretty nervous... especially around caramel.

    Marie, 669 of 12

    Marie, 66

    Marie was put forward for TGBBO by her daughter, despite her saying she couldn't even boil an egg when her children were growing up!

    Stu, 3510 of 12

    Stu, 35

    Stu is a professional musician who likes experimenting with Middle Eastern spices.

    Flora, 1911 of 12

    Flora, 19

    Flora is this year's youngest Bake Off contestant, and says her harshest critics are her two younger sisters

    Paul, 4912 of 12

    Paul, 49

    Paul's a former Coldstream Guard who performed ceremonial duties at Buckingham Palace. Oh, and he loves sugarcraft.

    Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us