Dame Joan Collins ‘SLAPS’ Gemma Collins on Late Night Lycett
Gemma Collins met her match when she appeared on Channel 4’s Late Night Lycett on Friday night.
The Diva Forever star, 42, was ‘smitten’ by legendary actress Dame Joan Collins, 89, when they appeared side by side on the comedy entertainment show.
Former The Only Way Is Essex Gemma delighted viewers as she showed off her acting skills when host comedian Joe Lycett, 34, demanded that the pair perform a scene that wouldn’t look out of place in Dame Joan’s iconic television series Dynasty.
Dame Joan appeared as the character Alexis Colby from 1981 to 1989, with the scheming character known for her sinister schemes against her ex-husband Blake.
And Dame Joan conjured up some of the same spirited energy to punch Gemma in the face during her televised appearance this week.
Full of action! Gemma Collins, 42, met her match when she appeared on Channel 4’s Late Night Lycett on Friday night, with Dame Joan Collins, 89, ‘slapping’ the reality star
All stars: The Diva Forever star (right) was ‘smitten’ by legendary actress Dame Joan Collins (left) when they appeared side by side on the comedy entertainment show
Gemma read from a script and exclaimed, “Stand aside, Dame Joan!” There’s a new Collins in town.’
Dame Joan hit back, “I’m the original OG,” to which Gemma replied, “You are, honey.” I’ll give you that, but move about b**ch because I’m here,” prompting Dame Joan to raise her hand and mimic a slap to Gemma’s face.
It comes after Gemma revealed that she plans to undergo genetic testing after her mother, aka Joan Collins, secretly battled cancer.
The reality star’s mother, Joan, was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma — in which the cells in the lining of the breast tissue become cancerous — in 2016 after finding a lump between her armpit and breast, and now Gemma plans to get screened on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutation to give her peace of mind about her chances of also contracting the disease.
She said The sun on Sunday newspaper: ‘I would really like to go for the BRCA test – peace of mind is key.
“My mom is now a breast cancer survivor and let this be a message to everyone out there — no one is invincible about it.
“Your health is your wealth and with a lump you never waste the doctor’s time.
“These services are there and we pay for these services – they are there to help us.”
On screen: Dame Joan appeared as the character Alexis Colby from 1981 to 1989, with the scheming character known for her sinister schemes against her ex-husband Blake (pictured in 1987)
Memorable moment: Dame Joan’s character Alexis was famous for her fight scene with Krystle, played by Linda Evans, in 1983
Gemma checks her breasts daily and urges women to see their doctor if they have any concerns.
She said Joan chose not to tell her daughter about her diagnosis as she was filming Diva Forever at the time.
Former Celebrity Big Brother housemate Gemma said her mother found the lump on the right side of her breast and the doctors caught it “in the nick of time.”
She added: “She knew that in the worst case scenario I would have fallen apart, so she kept it to herself as she didn’t want to upset me – but she was very scared.”
Gemma praised the NHS for their swift action and said they removed the lump straight away.
Joan was diagnosed in 2016 with ductal carcinoma in situ, meaning the cells in the lining of the breast tissue become cancerous, and she now goes for screening every year.
The cancer cells are in the milk ducts and have not spread to the surrounding breast tissue.
Devastating news: Gemma gets a life-saving gene test after her mother Joan (right) was diagnosed with breast cancer
Hereditary breast cancer is usually caused by an inherited mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene.
If a woman has inherited a mutated copy of these genes from either parent, she is at greater risk of developing breast cancer, with up to a 70 percent chance of developing the disease by age 80.
Gemma noted that her mom is lucky to be a breast cancer survivor and she hopes telling her story will encourage other people to go for checkups.
Fencing star is currently taking part in The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer and has only now decided to speak out about her mother’s ordeal.