ABSOLUTELY fabulous news, as long as you have secured a ticket! National treasure Joanna Lumley is in York on Sunday on her first ever live tour, presenting It's All About Me at a sold-out Barbican.

Joanna, 72, has crammed modelling, acting, activism, authorship and adventurous television presenting into her ever-broadening portfolio. Now she has added 30 nights of reflective, revelatory chat and audience questions and answers to her repertoire.

Joanna will take Sunday's 7.30pm audience at a galloping pace through adventures from nearly 50 years in the public eye, recounting stories never previously told. She will be joined on stage by friend and producer Clive Tulloh, who will pose questions from audience members that "they have always wanted to ask".

"The thought of this tour, travelling across the British Isles and Ireland, has completely taken over my waking hours," said Joanna, when announcing the tour. "It’s utterly thrilling to start planning the stories I can tell, and the rapture – and gratitude, to be fair – with which I shall greet the audiences.

"Nothing like this has come my way before, and I may have to be dragged off with a hook at the end of each show. Oh people! This is especially for you from me, with masses of love. I think it will be fabulous."

Lumley’s "random career" started in the London of the Swinging Sixties, first as designer Jean Muir’s house model and muse, then as a photographic model for knitting patterns, toothpaste commercials, miniskirts and the occasional front cover.

Her acting on screen took in early roles in Coronation Street, On The Buses, Dracula and as a brainwashed Bond Girl in Blofeld's lair in 1969's On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, before her breakthrough role as bob-haired Purdey in the New Avengers in 1976, when picked from 800 auditionees to play the high-kicking action girl.

Later, Joanna won two BAFTA TV Awards for her long-running BBC role as sozzled Patsy Stone in Jennifer Saunders' satirical fashion-industry sitcom, Absolutely Fabulous.

Sunday's co-pilot, Clive Tulloh, produced Joanna's survival show Girl Friday in 1994, since when they have worked together regularly on television documentaries, latterly on her adventures to India, Japan and the Trans-Siberian Railroad.

Joanna's tour takes in earlier Yorkshire shows at Sheffield City Hall tonight (October 24) and Leeds First Direct Arena on Friday (October 26).