Dame Judi Dench regifted a racy red thong to her friend Dame Imelda Staunton in a hilarious new Christmas ad.
The actresses teamed up to appear in an advert for ShelterBox, a disaster relief charity that provides essential items to people who have lost their homes.
In a clip shared online, Dame Judi, 90, is seen at home opening a present which she is disappointed to see is a sheer thong.
Looking at the garment in horror, she turns to the camera and quips: ‘Red’s not my colour.’
She then regifts it to Imelda, 69, who is seen holdinga Christmas bag on her lap with a card reading: ‘Love, Judi x’.
‘I’ve got a present from my friend, Dame Judi,’ she says happily.
Dame Judi Dench regifted a racy red thong to her friend Dame Imelda Staunton in a hilarious new Christmas ad
The actresses teamed up to appear in an advert for ShelterBox, a disaster relief charity that provides essential items to people who have lost their homes
Imelda then opens the thong and immediately looks embarassed. ‘It’s a bit big, isn’t it?’ she says before tossing it away.Â
Dame Judi recently revealed her eyesight has now declined so much she can no longer watch a performance by anyone else.Â
‘I can’t see any more,’ despairs the double Oscar winner, 90, who suffers from macular degeneration.Â
‘When I go to the theatre, I can’t see. Hopeless.’ Dame Judi was speaking at the Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds, of which she is patron.
She was, however, able to keep up with the antics of her friend and fellow thespian, Celia Imrie, on The Celebrity Traitors.Â
‘Somebody told me what was happening,’ Dame Judi says. ‘I want to hear the dirt that went on.’
Away from stage and screen, the celebrated actress has called upon the Government to give people with dementia an earlier diagnosis on the NHS.
Dame Judi was backing a new campaign and petition by Alzheimer’s Research UK for people with the condition to be told much quicker if they have it.
In a clip shared online, Dame Judi, 90, is seen at home opening a present which she is disappointed to see is a sheer thong
She then regifts it to Imelda, 69, who is seen holdinga Christmas bag on her lap with a card reading: ‘Love, Judi x’
Imelda then opens the thong and immediately looks embarassed. ‘It’s a bit big, isn’t it?’ she says before tossing it away
Almost a million people in the UK are living with dementia, but about one in three do not have a diagnosis.
According to Alzheimer’s Research UK, people in some parts of England can wait up to a year for a diagnosis after being referred, while those in the most deprived areas face longer delays.
Dame Judi said: ‘Dementia doesn’t just take away memories – it can take away identity, connection, and the future you thought you had.
‘Watching loved ones slip away, and not knowing why, is an experience no one should have to go through without answers.
Many people across the UK are still waiting far too long for a dementia diagnosis – or never receive one at all.
Dame Judi recently revealed her eyesight has now declined so much she can no longer watch a performance by anyone else
‘That means they miss out on vital support, on the chance to plan ahead, opportunities to get involved in research, and on precious time.
‘A diagnosis may not fix everything, but it gives people understanding, clarity, and some control at a time when everything feels uncertain. It allows families to make the most of the moments they have left.
‘That’s why I’ve signed Alzheimer’s Research UK’s petition – and why I’m asking the public to do the same.
‘Together, we can call on government to fix the crumbling diagnosis system and make sure no one faces dementia unseen.’
