Dame Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer reunite one last time for the final series of As Time Goes By

Dame Judi Dench may have the movie world at her feet but she couldn’t resist another chance to star opposite Geoffrey Palmer in the ninth and final series of As Time Goes By.

The 67-year-old star, who picked up a Best Supporting Actress gong for her role in Shakespeare In Love, plays Jean to Palmer’s Lionel in the romantic comedy, which returns to BBC1 this week

‘Geoffrey and I hit it off from the word go,’ she says. ‘The chemistry is either there or not, and it was with us from the first day of rehearsal.

‘I’ve worked opposite several people where you don’t like them and there isn’t a spark at all. In that situation there’s nothing you can do, its just up to you to get on with it and act out the story to the best of your ability. But it’s much nicer working with someone you absolutely adore!’

If that is the case, then why is this series, which includes Jean’s daughter Judith (Moira Brooker) marrying Alistair Deacon (Philip Bretherton), to be the last?

‘It was partly my and Geoffrey’s decision to call it a day, so I suppose you could say we sacked ourselves,' explains Judi, 'But we all agreed it was best to stop while we were still on top.'

Not that she’d be short of work. Last year saw her make The Shipping News and Iris (for which she was Oscar. nominated), and later this year she’ll be seen as M in the Bond movie Die Another Day and as Lady Bracknell in a big­screen version of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. She'll also be starring in the West End with Dame Maggie Smith this autumn.

.Judi says part of the reason she works so hard is to help her cope with the loss of her husband of 30 years. actor Michael Williams, who died 18 months ago. ‘Grief produces more energy and it needs to be burnt up,’ she says.

Thanks so much to Maree Wilson for sending me this article which appeared in the July 6-12, 2002 edition of TV Choice (UK).

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