Lesley Joseph gave a bravura performance when she visited Jewish Care's Brenner Centre in Stamford Hill on Tuesday. As well as regaling day centre members with tales from her time as Dorien in Birds of a Feather, the actress did a Q&A, joined a chair exercise session and stayed for lunch with her admiring audience.

"I think the key to growing old gracefully, or disgracefully, is to love life," she said. "You have a wealth of experience here and it's vital that younger people recognise the older members of our community. This is a lovely place."

She said the centre offered "a wonderful lifeline for people to make friendships. This is a great example of what older people in our community need. There is a warm connection between the members, volunteers and the staff".